Microbicidally active imidazopyridine derivatives

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein Y 1 , Y 2 , Y 3 , G, V 1 , V 2 , V 3  and V 4  are as defined in the claims. The invention further relates to compositions which comprise these compounds and to their use in agriculture or horticulture for controlling or preventing infestation of plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, preferably fungi.

The present invention relates to novel microbiocidally active, in particular fungicidally active, imidazopyridine derivatives. It further relates to intermediates used in the preparation of these compounds, to compositions which comprise these compounds and to their use in agriculture or horticulture for controlling or preventing infestation of plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, preferably fungi.

The application WO2009000413 is in the pharmaceutical field and is related to substituted benzoimidazoles, their preparation and their use for inducing apoptosis.

Surprisingly, it has been found that novel compounds have microbiocidal activity.

The present invention accordingly relates to oxime derivatives of formula (I)

wherein

Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, OR¹, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NR³COR², SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

or Y₃ is defined as above and Y₁ and Y₂ together with the fragment of the compound to which they are attached form a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, and wherein the ring formed by Y₁ and Y₂ is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

G represents a direct bond, O, S, S(O), SO₂, C(O), CO₂, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷), C(R⁴)═C(R⁵), C≡C, O—C(R⁴)(R⁵), S—C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—O, C(R⁴)(R⁵)—S or phenyl;

each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moeity;

each R² is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylthio and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

each R³ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, CN, OR¹, COR², C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, and a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, both of these radicals cannot be OR¹;

and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-7 and B-8:

wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, or C₁-C₄ alkylthio; wherein two radicals R⁴ and R⁵ or R⁶ and R⁷ or R⁴ and R⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3- to 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein carbocycle and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl;

R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl;

V₁ and V₂ independently of one another represent hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, C₂-C₉ alkoxycarbonyl, C₄-C₉ alkenyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl or COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy or C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

and wherein V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-9, B-10, B-11, B-12 and B-13:

wherein the cycle so formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

or agriculturally acceptable tautomers, salts or N-oxides thereof.

Halogen, either as a lone substituent or in combination with another substituent (e.g. haloalkyl) is generally fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, and usually fluorine, chlorine or bromine.

Each alkyl moiety (including the alkyl moiety of alkoxy, alkylthio, etc.) is a straight or branched chain and, depending on the number of carbon atoms it contains, is, for example, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, iso-propyl, sec-butyl, iso-butyl, tert-butyl, neo-pentyl, n-heptyl or 1,3-dimethylbutyl, and usually methyl or ethyl.

The alkenyl and alkynyl groups can be mono- or di-unsaturated and examples thereof are derived from the above mentioned alkyl groups.

The alkenyl group is an unsaturated straight or branched chain having a carbon-carbon double bond and, depending on the number of carbon atoms it contains, is, for example ethenyl, 1-propenyl, 2-propenyl, 1-methyl-ethenyl, 1-butenyl, 2-butenyl, 3-butenyl, 1-methyl-1-propenyl, 2-methyl-1-propenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl, 1-pentenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 4-pentenyl, 1-methyl-1-butenyl, 2-methyl-1-butenyl, 3-methyl-1-butenyl, 1-methyl-2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-butenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, 1-methyl-3-butenyl, 2-methyl-3-butenyl, 3-methyl-3-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-propenyl, 1-hexenyl, 2-hexenyl, 3-hexenyl, 4-hexenyl, 5-hexenyl, 1-methyl-1-pentenyl, 2-methyl-1-pentenyl, 3-methyl-1-pentenyl, 4-methyl-1-pentenyl, 1-methyl-2-pentenyl, 2-methyl-2-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-pentenyl, 4-methyl-2-pentenyl, 1-methyl-3-pentenyl, 2-methyl-3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-3-pentenyl, 4-methyl-3-pentenyl, 1-methyl-4-pentenyl, 2-methyl-4-pentenyl, 3-methyl-4-pentenyl, 4-methyl-4-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-1-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-2-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-3-butenyl, and usually 2-propenyl, 1-methyl-2-propenyl, 2-butenyl, 2-methyl-2-propenyl.

The alkynyl group is an unsaturated straight or branched chain having a carbon-carbon triple bond and, depending on the number of carbon atoms it contains, is, for example ethynyl, 1-propynyl, 2-propynyl, 1-butynyl, 2-butynyl, 3-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-propynyl, 1-pentynyl, 2-pentynyl, 3-pentynyl, 4-pentynyl, 3-methyl-1-butynyl, 1-methyl-2-butynyl, 1-methyl-3-butynyl, 2-methyl-3-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl, 1-ethyl-2-propynyl, 1-hexynyl, 2-hexynyl, 3-hexynyl, 4-hexynyl, 5-hexynyl, 3-methyl-1-pentynyl, 4-methyl-1-pentynyl, 1-methyl-2-pentynyl, 4-methyl-2-pentynyl, 1-methyl-3-pentynyl, 2-methyl-3-pentynyl, 1-methyl-4-pentynyl, 2-methyl-4-pentynyl, 3-methyl-4-pentynyl, 3,3,-dimethyl-1-butynyl, 1-ethyl-2-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-2-butynyl, 1-ethyl-3-butynyl, 2-ethyl-3-butynyl, 1,1-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 2,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl, 1,2-dimethyl-3-butynyl.

Haloalkyl moieties are alkyl moieties which are substituted by one or more of the same or different halogen atoms and are, for example, monofluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl, monochloromethyl, dichloromethyl, trichloromethyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl, 2-fluoroethyl, 1,1-difluoroethyl, 1-fluoroethyl, 2-chloroethyl, pentafluoroethyl, 1,1-difluoro-2,2,2-trichloroethyl, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoroethyl and 2,2,2-trichloroethyl, and typically trichloromethyl, difluorochloromethyl, difluoromethyl, trifluoromethyl and dichlorofluoromethyl.

Alkoxy is, for example, methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, iso-propoxy, n-butoxy, iso-butoxy, sec-butoxy and tert-butoxy, and usually methoxy or ethoxy.

Haloalkoxy is, for example, fluoromethoxy, difluoromethoxy, trifluoromethoxy, 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethoxy, 2-fluoroethoxy, 2-chloroethoxy, 2,2-difluoroethoxy and 2,2,2-trichloroethoxy, and usually difluoromethoxy, 2-chloroethoxy and trifluoromethoxy.

Alkylthio is, for example, methylthio, ethylthio, propylthio, iso-propylthio, n-butylthio, iso-butylthio, sec-butylthio or tert-butylthio, and usually methylthio or ethylthio.

Alkylsulphonyl is, for example, methylsulphonyl, ethylsulphonyl, propylsulphonyl, iso-propylsulphonyl, n-butylsulphonyl, iso-butylsulphonyl, sec-butylsulphonyl or tert-butylsulphonyl, and usually methylsulphonyl or ethylsulphonyl.

Alkylsulphinyl is, for example, methylsulphinyl, ethylsulphinyl, propylsulphinyl, iso-propylsulphinyl, n-butylsulphinyl, iso-butylsulphinyl, sec-butylsulphinyl or tert-butylsulphinyl, and usually methylsulphinyl or ethylsulphinyl.

Cycloalkyl may be saturated or partially unsaturated, preferably fully saturated, and is, for example, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

Alkoxyalkyl is, for example, methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, ethoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl, n-propoxymethyl, n-propoxyethyl, iso-propoxymethyl or iso-propoxyethyl.

Aryl includes phenyl, naphthyl, anthracyl, fluorenyl and indanyl, but is usually phenyl.

Carbocycle includes cycloalkyl groups and aryl groups.

Heterocycloalkyl is a non-aromatic ring that may be saturated or partially unsaturated, preferably fully saturated, containing carbon atoms as ring members and at least one heteroatom selected from O, S and N as ring members. Examples include oxiranyl, oxetanyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 1,3-dioxolanyl, 1,4-dioxanyl, aziridinyl, azetidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, oxazinanyl, morpholinyl, thiomorpholinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyrazolidinyl and piperazinyl, preferably morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperdinyl and piperazinyl, more preferably morpholinyl and pyrollidinyl.

Heteroaryl is, for example, a monovalent monocyclic or bicyclic aromatic hydrocarbon radical. Examples of monocyclic groups include pyridyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl, triazolyl, tetrazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, and thiadiazolyl. Examples of bicyclic groups include quinolinyl, cinnolinyl, quinoxalinyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothiophenyl, and benzothiadiazolyl. Monocyclic heteroaryl groups are preferred, preferably pyridyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl and triazolyl, e.g. 1,2,4 triazolyl, pyridyl and imidazolyl being most preferred.

The terms “heterocycle” and “heterocyclic ring” are used interchangeably and are defined to include heterocycloalkyl and heteroaryl groups. Any reference herein to a heterocycle or heterocyclic ring preferably refers to the specific examples given under the definition of heteroaryl and heterocycloalkyl above, and are preferably morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, piperdinyl, piperazinyl pyridyl, pyrrolyl, imidazolyl and triazolyl, e.g. 1,2,4 triazolyl, more preferably morpholinyl, pyrollidinyl, pyridyl and imidazolyl. No heterocycle contains adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent oxygen and sulphur atoms.

Where a moiety is indicated as being (optionally) substituted, e.g. alkyl, this includes those moieties where they are part of a larger group, e.g. the alkyl in the alkylthio group. The same applies, e.g. to the phenyl moiety in phenylthio etc. Where a moiety is indicated as being optionally substituted by one or more other groups, preferably there are one to five optional substituents, more preferably one to three optional substituents. Where a moiety is substituted by a cyclic group, e.g. aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl, preferably there are no more than two such substituents, more preferably no more than one such substituent.

The following substituents definitions, including preferred definitions, may be combined in any combination:

Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, OR¹, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NR³COR², SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

Preferably, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.

More preferably, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.

In another group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

Preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², N(R³)₂ and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

More preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂H, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, NH₂, NH(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and N(C₁-C₄ alkyl)₂, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

In another group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

Preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², N(R³)₂ and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

More preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂H, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, NH₂, NH(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and N(C₁-C₄ alkyl)₂, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl.

Preferably, the groups Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆ alkyl, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl and N(R³)₂, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl.

More preferably, Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, methyl, ethyl, ethynyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, methylthio, halomethylthio, methylsulfinyl and methylsulfonyl.

Even more preferably, the groups Y₂ and Y₃ are hydrogen.

In one group of compounds, Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen. In this group of compounds, Y₂ and Y₃ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen and bromine.

Alternately exactly one of the groups Y₂ or Y₃ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NH₂, OH, SH, methylthio, methylsulfonyl, methylsulfonyloxy, trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, nonafluoro-butylsulfonyloxy, phenylsulfonyloxy, para-methyl-phenylsulfonyloxy.

In another group of compounds, Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, NO₂, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the heterocycle is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl.

Y₁ and Y₂ may together with the fragment of the compound to which they are attached form a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, and wherein the ring formed by Y₁ and Y₂ is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

G represents a direct bond, O, S, S(O), SO₂, C(O), CO₂, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷), C(R⁴)═C(R⁵), C≡C, O—C(R⁴)(R⁵), S—C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—O, C(R⁴)(R⁵)—S or phenyl.

Preferably, G represents a direct bond, O, S, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).

More preferably, G represents a direct bond, C(O), S, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).

Even more preferably, G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).

Even more preferably, G represents a direct bond, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).

Each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moeity.

Preferably, each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moeity.

More preferably, each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyridyl or pyridyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl.

In another group of compounds, each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Preferably in this group of compounds, each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Even more preferably in this group of compounds, each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulphonyl, phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Yet more preferably in this group of compounds, each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulphonyl, phenyl or benzyl wherein the phenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, CN, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

It is particularly preferred in this group of compounds that each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

In another group of compounds, each R¹ is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the phenyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl.

In a further group of compounds, each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulphonyl, phenyl, benzyl or pyridyl, wherein the phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Yet more preferably in this group of compounds, each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ haloalkynyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulphonyl, phenyl, benzyl, or pyridyl, wherein the phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, CN, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Each R² is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylthio and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Preferably, each R² is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably, each R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl or C₁-C₈ haloalkyl.

Even more preferably, each R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

Most preferably, R² represents methyl.

Each R³ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, CN, OR¹, COR², C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, and a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, both of these radicals cannot be OR¹;

and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-7 and B-8:

wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Preferably, each R³ is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, CN, OR¹, COR² and C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, both of these radicals cannot be OR¹;

and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle B-1, B-2, B-5, or B-8;

wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Even more preferably, each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or COR²; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different; and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle B-1, B-2, B-5, or B-8; wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, methyl and halomethyl.

More preferably still, each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, C₃-C₄ alkynyl or COR²; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different; and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle B-1, B-2, B-5, or B-8, wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups, e.g. one to five groups, independently selected from halogen, methyl and halomethyl.

Yet more preferably, each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl or COR².

It is particularly preferred that each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen or C₁-C₄ alkyl.

In another group of compounds, each R³ is selected from the group of hydrogen, phenyl and a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the phenyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl;

wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different;

wherein R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl.

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, or C₁-C₄ alkylthio;

wherein two radicals R⁴ and R⁵ or R⁶ and R⁷ or R⁴ and R⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3- to 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein carbocycle and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl.

Preferably, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, or C₁-C₄ alkylthio.

Most preferably, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ each represent hydrogen.

R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl.

V₁ and V₂ independently of one another represent hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, C₂-C₉ alkoxycarbonyl, C₄-C₉ alkenyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl or COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy or C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

and wherein V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-9, B-10, B-11, B-12 and B-13:

wherein the cycle so formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Preferably, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, and COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10.

More preferably, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, and COR², or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10.

Even more preferably, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl, or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10.

In one group of compounds, V₁ is hydrogen and V₂ is as described above.

Most preferably, both V₁ and V₂ are hydrogen.

In another group of compounds, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from the group consisting of C₂-C₉-alkoxycarbonyl, C₄-C₉-alkenyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl or COR².

In a further group of compounds, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, and COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably, in this group of compounds, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, and COR².

Even more preferably, in this group of compounds, V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl.

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, NH₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

Preferably, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, NH₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl, are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

More preferably, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or amino.

Even more preferably, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, cyclopropyl or amino.

More preferably again, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or cyclopropyl.

It is particularly preferred that V₃ is hydrogen.

In one group of compounds, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, NH₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl, are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.

More preferably in this group of compounds, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl or amino.

More preferably again in this group of compounds, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or amino.

In another group of compounds, V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, methylthio, halomethylthio, methylsulfinyl, halomethylsulfinyl, methylsulfonyl, halomethylsulfonyl, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, OH, SH, methylsulfonyloxy, trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy, nonafluoro-butylsulfonyloxy, phenylsulfonyloxy, para-methyl-phenylsulfonyloxy.

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Preferably, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably, V₄ is hydrogen, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, C₃-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl or alkylnyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy

More preferably still, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl.

Most preferably, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In another group of compounds, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably in this group of compounds, V₄ is hydrogen, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, C₃-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl-C₁-C₄-alkyl or C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl or alkylnyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy

More preferably still in this group of compounds, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl.

Even more preferably in this group of compounds, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

Most preferably in this group of compounds, V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In one group of compounds, V₄ is selected from phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl and pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl wherein the alkyl, phenyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Even more preferably in this group, V₄ is phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

or V₄ is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, C₃-C₆ alkynyl or C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl or alkylnyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably still in this group of compounds, V₄ is a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl;

or V₄ is selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl and C₃-C₆ alkynyl.

More preferably still in this group of compounds, V₄ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, iso-propyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, 1-(1-methylbutyl), 1-(2-methylbutyl) and 1-(3-methylbutyl).

In one group of compounds, V₄ is selected from phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl and pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl wherein the alkyl, phenyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Even more preferably in this group, V₄ is phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

In another group of compounds, V₄ is C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, C₃-C₆ alkynyl or C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein alkyl, alkenyl or alkylnyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

More preferably still in this group of compounds, V₄ is a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.

or V₄ is selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl and C₃-C₆ alkynyl.

In another group of compounds, V₄ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, iso-propyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, 1-(1-methylbutyl), 1-(2-methylbutyl) and 1-(3-methylbutyl).

In one preferred group of compounds:

Y₁ and Y₂, together with the fragment of the compound to which they are attached may form a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, and wherein the ring formed by Y₁ and Y₂ is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ haloalkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfinyl, C₁-C₄ alkylsulfonyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkylsulfonyl.

In one preferred group of compounds:

V₁ is hydrogen and V₂ is selected from C₂-C₉-alkoxycarbonyl, C₄-C₉-alkenyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl and COR².

In another preferred group of compounds:

V₁, V₂ and V₃ are hydrogen and V₄ is a cycloalkyl group selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl and cyclooctyl.

In another preferred group of compounds:

V₁, V₂ and V₃ are hydrogen and V₄ is selected from C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl and C₃-C₆ alkynyl.

In another preferred group of compounds:

V₁, V₂ and V₃ are hydrogen and V₄ is phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, wherein the phenyl is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

In another preferred group of compounds:

V₁, V₂ and V₃ are hydrogen and V₄ is an alkyl group selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, iso-propyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, 1-(1-methylbutyl), 1-(2-methylbutyl) and 1-(3-methylbutyl).

In a further preferred group of compounds:

Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², N(R³)₂C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, methyl, ethyl, ethynyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, methylthio, halomethylthio, methylsulfinyl and methylsulfonyl;

or Y₃ is as defined above and Y₁ and Y₂ together with the fragment of the compound to which they are attached form a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, and wherein the ring formed by Y₁ and Y₂ is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

G represents a direct bond, O, S, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷), or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵);

each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

each R² is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, C₃-C₄ alkynyl or COR²; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different; and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle B-1, B-2, B-5, or B-8, wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, methyl and halomethyl;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or C₁-C₄ alkylthio;

R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl;

V₁ is hydrogen and V₂ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl or amino;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl.

Preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂R¹, COR², N(R³)₂ and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, methyl, ethyl, ethynyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, methylthio, halomethylthio, methylsulfinyl and methylsulfonyl;

G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵);

each R¹ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

each R² is independently selected from the group of hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

each R³ independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, C₃-C₄ alkynyl or COR²; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different; and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle B-1, B-2, B-5, or B-8, wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, methyl and halomethyl;

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, or C₁-C₄ alkylthio;

R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl;

V₁ is hydrogen and V₂ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl or amino;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

Even more preferably in this group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, CO₂H, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, NH₂, NH(C₁-C₄ alkyl) and N(C₁-C₄ alkyl)₂, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, naphthyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are hydrogen;

G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷), or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵);

R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ each represent hydrogen;

V₁ and V₂ are hydrogen;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or amino;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₂-C₄ alkenyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In another preferred group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen;

each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moiety;

R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl, or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or amino;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl;

G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).

In another group of compounds, Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen and bromine;

G represents a direct bond, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵);

each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyridyl or pyridyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl;

each R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl;

V₁ is hydrogen;

V₂ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl;

or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10;

V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or cyclopropyl;

V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In one group of compounds, Y¹ is C(R²)═N—OR¹ wherein R¹ and R² are as defined herein.

Intermediates that can be used to prepare compounds of formula (I) also form part of the present invention.

Accordingly, in a further aspect, the invention provides novels compound of formula (L-V)

wherein Y₁ represents halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, OR¹, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NR³COR², SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl;

V₄ is selected from OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

X₃ is selected from Cl, Br, I, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, n-propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, ethylthio, n-propylthio and isopropylthio;

G, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, V₁, V₂ and V₃ are as defined for a compound of formula (I);

wherein when G is a direct bond, Y₁ cannot be hydrogen;

or a compound of formula (L-V) wherein Y₁, Y₂ and Y₃ each represent hydrogen;

V₄ is selected from OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy;

X is selected from Cl, Br, I, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, n-propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, ethylthio, n-propylthio and isopropylthio, provided that the compound is not one of the following compounds:

or agriculturally acceptable tautomers, salts or N-oxides thereof.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a compound of the formula (L-VIII):

wherein G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃ and V₄ are defined as in claim 1 or agriculturally acceptable tautomers, salts or N-oxides thereof, and provided that the compound is not

The compounds of formula (I) may exist as different geometric or optical isomers or in different tautomeric forms. These may be separated and isolated by well-known (usually chromatographic) techniques, and all such isomers and tautomers and mixtures thereof in all proportions as well as isotopic forms, such as deuterated compounds, are part of the present invention.

The compounds of the invention can be used in their free form or as a salt thereof. Acids that can be used for the preparation of salts are as follows: hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydroiodic, sulfuric, phosphoric, nitric, acetic, trifluoroacetic, trichloroacetic, prioprionic, glycolic, thiocyanic, lactic, succinic, citric, benzoic, cinnamic, oxalic, formic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, methanesulfonic, salicylic, p-aminosalicylic, 2-phenoxybenzoic, 2-acetoxybenzoic and 1,2-naphthalene-disulfonic acid

The compounds in Tables 1 to 12 illustrate compounds of formula (I).

Table X represents Table 1 (when X is 1), Table 2 (when X is 2), Table 3 (when X is 3), Table 4 (when X is 4), Table 5 (when X is 5), Table 6 (when X is 6), Table 7 (when X is 7), Table 8 (when X is 8), Table 9 (when X is 9), Table 10 (when X is 10), Table 11 (when X is 11), Table 12 (when X is 12), Table 13 (when X is 13), Table 14 (when X is 14), Table 15 (when X is 15), Table 16 (when X is 16)

TABLE X Y₁ Y₂ Y₃ V₃ V₄ X.001 H H H H H X.002 H H H H CH₃ X.003 H H H H CH₂CH₃ X.004 H H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.005 H H H H CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.006 H H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.007 H H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.008 H H H H CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ X.009 H H H H cyclopropyl X.010 H H H H —CH₂-cyclopropyl X.011 H H H H cyclobutyl X.012 H H H H cyclopentyl X.013 H H H H cyclopent-3-enyl X.014 H H H H 3-methylcyclohexyl X.015 H H H H 4-methylcyclohexyl X.016 H H H H 1-methylcyclohexyl X.017 H H H H cyclohexyl X.018 H H H H cyclohex-3-enyl X.019 H H H H 4-methylcyclohex-3-enyl X.020 H H H H CH₂CH═CH₂ X.021 H H H H CH(CH₃)CH═CH₂ X.022 H H H H CH₂CH═CH(CH₃) X.023 H H H H CH₂CH═CH(CH₃) E X.024 H H H H CH₂CH═CH(CH₃) Z X.025 H H H H CH₂CH═C(CH₃)₂ X.026 H H H H CH₂C≡CH X.027 CH(CH₃)C≡CH X.028 H H H H CH₂C≡CCH₃ X.029 H H H H CH₂C≡CC(CH₃)₃ X.030 H H H H CH₂C≡CC(CH₃)₃ X.031 H H H H CH₂phenyl X.032 H H H H CH₂-4-CH₃-phenyl X.033 H H H H CH₂-2-CH₃-phenyl X.034 H H H H CH₂OCH₃ X.035 H H H H CH₂CH₂OCH₃ X.036 H H H H CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₃ X.037 H H H H oxan-2-yl X.038 H H H H oxetan-2-yl X.039 H H H H OH X.040 H H H H OCH₃ X.041 H H H H OCH₂CH₃ X.042 H H H H OCH₂-phenyl X.043 H H H H OCH₂CH═CH₂ X.044 H H H H OCH₂C≡CH X.045 H H H H CH₂phenyl X.046 H H H H CH₂CH₂phenyl X.047 H H H H CH₂CH₂-2-CH₃-phenyl X.048 H H H H CH₂CH₂-3-CH₃-phenyl X.049 H H H H CH₂CH₂-4-CH₃-phenyl X.050 H H H H CH₂CH₂-2-F-phenyl X.051 H H H H CH₂CH₂-3,5-di-Cl-phenyl X.052 H H H H CH₂-4-CH₃-phenyl X.053 H H H H CH₂-2-CH₃-phenyl X.054 H H H H CH₂-3-CH₃-phenyl X.055 H H H H CH₂-4-Cl-phenyl X.056 H H H H CH₂-2-Cl-phenyl X.057 H H H H CH₂-3-Cl-phenyl X.058 H H H H CH₂CH₂-2-Cl-phenyl X.059 H H H H CH₂CH₂-3-Cl-phenyl X.060 H H H H CH₂CH₂-4-Cl-phenyl X.061 H H H H CH₂CH₂-3,5-di-Cl-phenyl X.062 H H H CH₃ CH₂CH₃ X.063 H H H CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ X.064 H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ X.065 CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ CH₂CH₃ X.066 H H H CH(CH₃)₂ CH₂CH₃ X.067 C(CH₃)₃ CH₂CH₃ X.068 H H H cyclopropyl CH₂CH₃ X.069 H H H (CH₂)₄CH₃ CH₂CH₃ X.070 H H H cyclohexyl CH₂CH₃ X.071 H H H CF₃ CH₂CH₃ X.072 H H H CHF₂ CH₂CH₃ X.073 H H H benzyl CH₂CH₃ X.074 H H H Cl CH₂CH₃ X.075 Br CH₂CH₃ X.076 H H H CN CH₂CH₃ X.077 H H H CH₂CH₂CN CH₂CH₃ X.078 H H H C₆H₅ CH₂CH₃ X.079 H H H 4-Cl—C₆H₄ CH₂CH₃ X.080 H H H 3-F—C₆H₄ CH₂CH₃ X.081 H H H 2-CH₃—C₆H₄ CH₂CH₃ X.082 H H H 3,5-di-F—C₆H₃ CH₂CH₃ X.083 H H H NH₂ CH₂CH₃ X.084 H H H NMe₂ CH₂CH₃ X.085 H H H CH₃ cyclohexyl X.086 H H H CH₂CH₃ cyclohexyl X.087 H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ cyclohexyl X.088 CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ cyclohexyl X.089 H H H CH(CH₃)₂ cyclohexyl X.090 H H H C(CH₃)₃ cyclohexyl X.100 H H H cyclopropyl cyclohexyl X.101 H H H (CH₂)₄CH₃ cyclohexyl X.102 H H H cyclohexyl cyclohexyl X.103 H H H CF₃ cyclohexyl X.104 H H H CHF₂ cyclohexyl X.105 H H H benzyl cyclohexyl X.106 H H H Cl cyclohexyl X.107 H H H Br cyclohexyl X.108 H H H CN cyclohexyl X.109 H H H CH₂CH₂CN cyclohexyl X.110 H H H C₆H₅ cyclohexyl X.111 H H H 4-Cl—C₆H₄ cyclohexyl X.112 H H H 3-F—C₆H₄ cyclohexyl X.113 H H H 2-CH₃—C₆H₄ cyclohexyl X.114 H H H 3,5-di-F—C₆H₃ cyclohexyl X.115 H H H NH₂ cyclohexyl X.116 H H H NMe₂ cyclohexyl X.117 H H H CH₃ cyclopropyl X.118 H H H CH₂CH₃ cyclopropyl X.119 H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ cyclopropyl X.120 H H H CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃ cyclopropyl X.121 H H H CH(CH₃)₂ cyclopropyl X.122 H H H C(CH₃)₃ cyclopropyl X.123 H H H cyclopropyl cyclopropyl X.124 H H H (CH₂)₄CH₃ cyclopropyl X.125 H H H cyclohexyl cyclopropyl X.126 H H H CF₃ cyclopropyl X.127 H H H CHF₂ cyclopropyl X.128 H H H benzyl cyclopropyl X.129 H H H Cl cyclopropyl X.130 H H H Br cyclopropyl X.131 H H H CN cyclopropyl X.132 H H H CH₂CH₂CN cyclopropyl X.133 H H H C₆H₅ cyclopropyl X.134 H H H 4-Cl—C₆H₄ cyclopropyl X.135 H H H 3-F—C₆H₄ cyclopropyl X.136 H H H 2-CH₃—C₆H₄ cyclopropyl X.137 H H H 3,5-di-F—C₆H₃ cyclopropyl X.138 H H H NH₂ cyclopropyl X.139 H H H NMe₂ cyclopropyl X.140 H H H CH₃ CH₃ X.141 H H H CH₃ CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.142 H H H CH₃ CH(CH₃)₂ X.143 H H H CH₃ cyclopentyl X.144 H H H CH₃ CH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃ X.145 H H H CH₃ CH₂CH═CH₂ X.146 H H H CH₃ CH₂CCH X.147 H H H CH₃ CH₂C₆H₅ X.148 H H H CH₃ CH₂-3-F-phenyl X.149 H H H CH₃ CH(CH₃)—OCH₂CH₃ X.150 H H H CH₃ CH₂CH₂C₆H₅ X.151 H H H CH₃ CH₂CH₂-4-Cl-phenyl X.152 CH₃ H H H CH₃ X.153 CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.154 CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.155 CH₃ H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.156 CH₃ H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.157 CH₃ H H H cyclopropyl X.158 CH₃ H H H cyclopentyl X.159 CH₃ H H H cyclohexyl X.160 CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₃ X.161 CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.162 CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.163 CH₂CH₃ H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.164 CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.165 CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclopropyl X.166 CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclopentyl X.167 CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclohexyl X.168 C₆H₅ H H H H X.169 C₆H₅ H H H CH₃ X.170 C₆H₅ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.171 C₆H₅ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.172 C₆H₅ H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.173 C₆H₅ H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.174 C₆H₅ H H H cyclopropyl X.175 C₆H₅ H H H cyclopentyl X.176 C₆H₅ H H H cyclohexyl X.177 2-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.178 2-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.179 2-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.180 4-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.181 4-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.182 4-Cl—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.183 2,4-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.184 2,4-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.185 2,4-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.186 2-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.187 2-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.188 2-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.189 4-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.190 4-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.191 4-F—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.192 2,4-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.193 2,4-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.194 2,4-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.195 2,5-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.196 2,5-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.197 2,5-di-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.198 2,5-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.199 2,5-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.200 2,5-di-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.201 2-Cl-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.202 2-Cl-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.203 2-Cl-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.204 4-CF₃—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.205 4-CF₃—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.206 4-CF₃—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.207 2-F-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.208 2-F-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.209 2-F-4-CF₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.210 2-Cl-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.211 2-Cl-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.212 2-Cl-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.213 2-F-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.214 2-F-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.215 2-F-4-CH₃—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.216 2-Cl-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.217 2-Cl-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.218 2-Cl-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.219 2-F-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.220 2-F-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.221 2-F-4-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.222 2-CH₃O—C₆H₄ H H H CH₃ X.223 2-CH₃O—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.224 2-CH₃O—C₆H₄ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.225 2,4-di-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.226 2,4-di-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.227 2,4-di-CH₃O—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.228 2-CH₃O-4-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.229 2-CH₃O-4-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.230 2-CH₃O-4-Cl—C₆H₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.231 2-CH₃O-4-F—C₆H₃ H H H CH₃ X.232 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₃ X.233 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.234 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.235 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.236 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.237 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclopropyl X.238 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclopentyl X.239 CH₂CH₂CH₃ H H H cyclohexyl X.240 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH₃ X.241 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH₃ X.242 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH₂CH₃ X.243 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH₂CH₂CH₃ X.244 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH(CH₃)₂ X.245 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H CH₂CH(CH₃)₂ X.246 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H cyclopropyl X.247 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H cyclopentyl X.248 CH(CH₃)₂ H H H cyclohexyl

TABLE 1 This table discloses compounds 1.001 to 1.248 of the formula (I-I)

(I-I) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 2 This table discloses compounds 2.001 to 2.248 of the formula (I-II)

(I-II) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 3 This table discloses compounds 3.001 to 3.248 of the formula (I-III)

(I-III) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 4 This table discloses compounds 4.001 to 4.248 of the formula (I-IV)

(I-IV) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 5 This table discloses compounds 5.001 to 5.248 of the formula (I-V)

(I-V) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 6 This table discloses compounds 6.001 to 6.248 of the formula (I-VI)

(I-VI) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 7 This table discloses compounds 7.001 to 7.248 of the formula (I-VII)

(I-VII) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 8 This table discloses compounds 8.001 to 8.248 of the formula (I-VIII)

(I-VIII) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 9 This table discloses compounds 9.001 to 9.248 of the formula (I-IX)

(I-IX) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 10 This table discloses compounds 10.001 to 10.248 of the formula (I-X)

(I-X) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 11 This table discloses compounds 11.001 to 11.248 of the formula (I-XI)

(I-XI) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 12 This table discloses compounds 12.001 to 12.248 of the formula (I-XII)

(I-XII) wherein G is a direct bond and Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 13 This table discloses compounds 13.001 to 13.248 of the formula (I-XIII)

(I-XIII) wherein Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 14 This table discloses compounds 14.001 to 14.248 of the formula (I-XIV)

(I-XIV) wherein Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 15 This table discloses compounds 15.001 to 15.248 of the formula (I-XV)

(I-XV) wherein Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

TABLE 16 This table discloses compounds 16.001 to 16.248 of the formula (I-XVI)

(I-XVI) wherein Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ have the specific meanings given in the Table

The compounds in Tables 1 to 16 include all isomers, tautomers and mixtures thereof, including the cis/trans isomers shown above.

Compounds of Tables 1 to 16 can be prepared according to the following methods.

In scheme 1, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₄ have the meanings given above. The intermediates shown are either commercial or can easily be prepared from commercial starting materials.

Transformation 1

V₄′ represents C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR² (wherein R² is defined as above) or SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy. Here the NH₂ of the amino-nitro-pyridine is transformed into NH—V₄′ by electrophilic reagents V₄′—X whereby X is a halogen or a sulfonic acid ester group. The reaction is usually carried out in an inert solvent such as THF, dioxane, diethyl ether, NMP, DMF, DMPU, DMSO, sulfolane in the presence of bases such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, carbonate or tert-butoxide, or sodium hydride. Relevant literature references include: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 16(3), 1511-1530; 2008; PCT Int. Appl., 2006013195; Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 10(1-3), 543-5; 1991; Tetrahedron, 65(44), 8950-8955; 2009; Tetrahedron, 65(44), 8950-8955; 2009

When V₄′ is COR², transformation 1 is an acylation of the amino group. This process is described in scheme 7, transformation 1 below.

When V₄′ is SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl then the process is an alkylsulfonylation of an amine a well-established reaction. Relevant literature references include Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 48(18), 5823-5836; 2005 and WO 2006101321

Transformation 2

Here, the amino group is introduced by a nucleophilic substitution whereby the nucleophile H₂N—V₄ is displacing the leaving group X. Such nucleophilic substitutions can be done in a number of solvents such as water, methanol, butanol, tert-butanol, MeCN, DMF, NMP, DMSO and CH₂Cl₂. Often, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a base such as triethylamine, Hünig's base, inorganic bases such as sodium or potassium carbonate or bicarbonate. Relevant literature references include: Organic Process Research & Development, 12(6), 1261-1264; 2008; Organic Process Research & Development, 8(6), 903-908; 2004; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 38(20), 4131-4; 1995; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 19(5), 1508-1511; 2009; PCT Int. Appl., 2008056150, 15 May 2008; PCT Int. Appl., 2005011700, 10 Feb. 2005; European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 24(3), 227-32; 1989; PCT Int. Appl., 2005051324, 9 Jun. 2005; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 14(12), 4029-4034; 2006; Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 14(5), 813-21; 1977

In scheme 2, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃, V₄ have the meanings as defined for compounds of formula I.

Step 1

The nitro-pyridine derivative can be transformed into the corresponding amino-pyridine by a number of methods. Metal reductions using metals or metal derivatives such as iron, tin, tin dichloride, zinc, indium are well documented in the literature.

Relevant references include: WO 2010078408; WO 2009155527; U.S. Pat. No. 7,737,279; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters (2010), 20(15), 4350-4354; WO 2009000663;

disodium dithionite: WO 2010030785

Step 2

The cyclization reaction towards the thione intermediate is a standard reaction and can be found well documented in the literature. The methods comprise the use of thiourea, carbon disulfide, thiocarbonyldiimidazole, thiophosgene, potassium xanthogenate as the thionylating agent. The transformation is usually carried out in an inert solvent such as DMF, NMP, DMSO, THF, dioxane, pyridine, dimethylacetamide, MeCN, toluene, CH₂Cl₂, and also alcohols such as ethanol or butanol for certain transformations. Relevant literature references include: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 48(10), 3481-3491; 2005; WO 2008115262; WO 2007106852; WO 2007056112, Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii (1988), (6), 799-804; Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 26(2), Journal of the Chemical Society, 2379-82; 1962; 409-12; 1989; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 18(21), 7357-7364; 2010; Indian Journal of Chemistry, Section B: Organic Chemistry Including Medicinal Chemistry, 21B(5), 485-7; 1982

Step 3

The transformation of the thione to the methyl-thio derivative has been described in the literature. Methyl iodide or dimethyl sulphate may be used along with a base such as dipotassium, disodium or dicaesium carbonate, potassium or sodium hydroxide, a sodium or potassium alcoholate, such as sodium or potassium methylate or ethylate. Relevant literature references include: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (2005), 48(10), 3481-3491; WO 2010036613; Organic Communications (2009), 2(2), 49-59; Heterocyclic Communications (2008), 14(6), 469-472; Steroids (2004), 69(3), 201-217; Acta Chemica Scandinavica (1994), 48(10), 823-30; Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal (1989), 23(8), 952-6

Step 4

The transformation consists of substituting the methylthio group by hydrazine. As the nucleophile, either hydrazine hydrate or a properly protected hydrazine derivative may be used. Such protected hydrazine derivatives include compounds such as (CH₃)₃C—O—CO—NH—NH₂, PhCH₂—O—CO—NH—NH₂, H₂C═CHCH₂—O—CO—NH—NH₂, CH₃—CO—NH—NH₂. In order to obtain the free hydrazone compound M, the protecting group is cleaved according to one of the deprotection scenarios of the well-known protecting groups. Relevant literature references include the following: Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 40(1), 7-14; 1983; Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 61(11), 2563-6; 1983

Step 5

In this step, the aminotriazole ring is built up. The hydrazine derivative is typically reacted with reactants of the form NC—N═C(OR¹)—V₃ wherein R¹ is typically an alkyl group such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl or R¹ is an optionally substituted phenyl moiety such as phenyl, 4-chloro-phenyl, or alternatively with a reactant of the form or (V₃′—S—C═N—CN wherein V₃′ is a suitable subgroup of V₃ such as H, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, each of which can—apart form H—optionally be substituted. The preparation of the reagents is well described in the literature. Solvents usually used include water, methanol ethanol, butanol, tert-butanol, DMF, NMP, dimethylacetamide, THF, dioxane, DMSO, sulfolane, pyridine, MeCN, toluene, cyclohexane, hexanes, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, ClCH₂CH₂Cl. The reaction can be carried out in the presence of bases such as triethylamine, Hünig's base, sodium tert-butylate, sodium or potassium carbonate or bicarbonate. Relevant literature references include the following: Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 19(5), 1157-64; 1982; Organic Letters, 11(23), 5482-5485; 2009; Tetrahedron Letters, 39(43), 7983-7986; 1998; Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 29(5), 1209-11; 1992; PCT Int. Appl., 2005013982, 17 Feb. 2005; PCT Int. Appl., 2008083353, 10 Jul. 2008; WO 2005/077939; WO 2008/083356

In scheme 3, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₄ have the meanings as defined for compounds of formula I.

The transformation is done using reagents such as cyanogen bromide, cyanamide, 1,1′-carbonimidoylbis-1H-imidazole and iminourea.

Typically, solvents such as CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl, CHCl₃, ethanol, butanol, water, THF, dioxane, DMF, NMP, dimethylacetamide, MeCN, DMSO, cyclohexane, hexanes, ethyl acetate are used. Relevant literature references include: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 16(11), 2842-2845; 2006; PCT Int. Appl., 2010078408, 8 Jul. 2010; PCT Int. Appl., 2007106852, 20 Sep. 2007; PCT Int. Appl., 2005080380, 1 Sep. 2005; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 67(5), 1708-1711; 2002; Tetrahedron, 32(7), 839-42; 1976; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 18(23), 6218-6221; 2008; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 67(21), 7553-7556; 2002

In the preparation of compounds of formula (I), the following alternative scheme may be chosen.

In scheme 4, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₄ have the meanings as defined for compounds of formula I.

Step 1

The thione intermediate may be directly transformed into compound M whereby the thione starting material is reacted with hydrazine hydrate to give compound M.

Analogous transformations are to be found in the literature and include the following: Australian Journal of Chemistry, 35(6), 1263-7; 1982; Heterocyclic Communications, 14(6), 469-472; 2008; Indian Journal of Chemistry, Section B: Organic Chemistry Including Medicinal Chemistry, 27B(3), 298-300; 1988; WO 2005/077939.

Step 2 is already described in scheme 2, step 3 above.

Step 3

Deviating from the sequence in the previous scheme 2, the methyl-thio intermediate is oxidized either to the methyl sulfoxide or to the methyl sulfone. A large variety of oxidants can be used. Such oxidants include hydrogen peroxide or hydrogen peroxide-urea adduct in the presence of an acid such as acetic acid or trifluoroacetic acid. Oxidants include also the use of peracids such as meta-chloroperbenzoic acid, peracetic acid or trifluoroperacetic acid. Such peracids can be used as such, or, alternatively, they can be generated in situ from the corresponding acids and hydrogen peroxide or the corresponding acid anhydride and hydrogen peroxide. Still other oxidants include permanganates, such as sodium or potassium permanganate, or MeReO₃ and hydrogen peroxide. Depending upon the reaction time and the stoichiometry, the reaction can be tuned either towards the formation of the sulfoxide or the sulfone. Furthermore, if a mixture of both the sulfoxide and the sulfone is obtained they can usually be separated by chromatography.

Analogous transformations can be found in the literature: Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 32(1), 227-34; 1995; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 19(3), 903-907; 2009; Synthetic Communications, 40(6), 808-813; 2010; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 48(10), 3481-3491; 2005, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 57(5), 1390-405; 1992; Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 61(11), 2563-6; 1983; Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 40(1), 7-14; 1983; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 72(26), 9924-9935; 2007; Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 351(6), 903-919; 2009

Step 4

Step 4 demonstrates the nucleophilic substitution whereby hydrazine replaces the methylsulfone or methylsulfoxide group. Hydrazine hydrate is the preferred nucleophile. Relevant literature references include: Heterocycles, 6(12), 1999-2004; 1977; Chemical Research in Toxicology, 16(11), 1433-1439; 2003; Synthesis, (6), 894-898; 2003

In scheme 5, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₄ have the meanings as defined for compounds of formula I.

Step 1

Step 1 is the transformation of a urea functional group into the corresponding thiourea. Reagents to carry out this transformation include P₂S₅, Lawesson's reagent and thiourea. Solvents used include THF, dioxane, ethanol, toluene, DMF, xylene, MeCN and CH₂Cl₂. The transformation can be done in the presence of a base, such as pyridine. Relevant literature includes: Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 18(4), 751-3; 1981, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 80, 6671-9; 1958; Tetrahedron Letters, 29(2), 195-8; 1988; Journal of the Chemical Society, 860-4; 1962; PCT Int. Appl., 2010068483, 17 Jun. 2010

Step 2

The 2H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-one starting material is transformed into the corresponding halogen compound. To obtain the chloride, reagents such as POCl₃, (Cl₃CO)₂C═O with a base such as pyridine are used. In order to obtain the bromide, reagents such as POBr₃ and PBr₃ are used. These transformations can be done neat or in the presence of (an) inert solvent(s) such as CH₂Cl₂, ClCH₂CH₂Cl, CHCl₃, CCl₄, AcOEt, THF, dioxane, toluene, chloro-benzene, cyclohexane or sulfolane. The transformations can be done in the presence of a base such as pyridine, N,N-dimethylaniline or N,N-diethylaniline. The iodo derivative is usually prepared from the chloro or bromo analogues.

Supporting Literature References:

Cl: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 29(6), 1099-113; 1986; Helvetica Chimica Acta, 61(8), 2958-73; 1978; PCT Int. Appl., 2009134750, 5 Nov. 2009; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 18(18), 5010-5014; 2008; Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 37(10), 2723-6; 1989;

Br: PCT Int. Appl., 2008082003; PCT Int. Appl., 2007069053; Synlett, (16), 2625-2628; 2006; Journal of Organic Chemistry, 69(25), 8829-8835; 2004;

I: Tetrahedron, 57(9), 1677-1687; 2001

Step 3

To obtain compound M, the halide is reacted with hydrazine hydrate either in pure form or in the presence of an inert solvent such as THF, dioxane, diethyl ether, toluene, DMF, NMP, DMSO, ethanol or butanol. The reaction is run either at room temperature or under heating.

Relevant literature references include: PCT Int. Appl., 2008024981, 28 Feb. 2008; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 44(25), 4359-4369; 2001; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 44(25), 4359-4369; 2001; Australian Journal of Chemistry, 35(6), 1263-7; 1982; Chemische Berichte, 88, 1932-7; 1955; Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 35(4), 949-954; 1998; Bulletin de la Societe Chimique de France, 1793-8, 1959

Step 4

The amine compound is first transformed into the corresponding diazonium salt by the treatment with a nitrite such as sodium or potassium nitrite in the presence of an acid such as hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid, phosphoric or sulphuric acid. Alternatively the transformation can also be carried out under non-aqueous conditions whereby an alkyl nitrite such as iso-pentyl or tert-butyl nitrite in an inert solvent such as CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, ClCH₂CH₂Cl or tert-butyl-NO₂ is used. The intermediate diazonium salt is then transformed into the halide by reagents such as KI, with or without a catalytic amount of I₂, or CuBr, CuCl, CuBr₂ or CuCl₂. Relevant literature references: Helvetica Chimica Acta, 83(12), 3229-3245; 2000; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 38(20), 4098-105; 1995; PCT Int. Appl., 2009011880, 22 Jan. 2009; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 38(20), 4098-105; 1995

Step 5

This step is the same as step 1 in scheme 4 above.

In scheme 6, G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃, V₄ have the meanings as defined for compounds of formula I.

Each U′ is independently of the other H, (tert-butyl)-O—CO, allyl-O—CO, benzyl-O—CO, HC(═O), C₁-C₆-alkyl-O—CO or C₁C₆-alkyl-CO, or both U′ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached form one of the following cycles:

Typical such compounds N′ are either available commercially or are described in the literature. Alternatively, intermediates N′ may be a silylated or persilylated form of the aminotriazole, wherein U′ is tri-(C₁-C₆-alkyl)-silyl, preferentially trimethylsilyl. Partially or fully silylated form of intermediates N′ are obtained by treating a given compound of formula N′ wherein U′ is H with a silylating agent. This may be performed either with or without a solvent being present, and optionally in the presence of a catalyst such as Et₃N, (NH₄)₂SO₄ or CF₃SO₂OSiMe₃.

The preferred trimethylsilylation may consist of treating N′ wherein U′ is H, with a trimethylsilylating agent such as Me₃SiCl, Me₃SiBr, (Me₃Si)₂NH or MeC(═NSiMe₃)—O—SiMe₃. This may be performed either with or without an inert solvent, such as DMF, NMP, dimethylacetamide, MeCN, toluene being present, and optionally in the presence of a catalyst such as Et₃N, (NH₄)₂SO₄ or CF₃SO₂OSiMe₃. Relevant references for analoguous transformations include Organic Reactions 55, 1; 2000; Synthesis, (8), 773-8; 1992; Synthetic Communications, 34(5), 917-932; 2004

Step 1

This transformation consists of condensing an optionally protected amino triazole derivative with an electrophilic 3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine derivative having a leaving group X″ in the 2-position. Leaving group X″ is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, SMe, SOMe and SO₂Me. In the course of the condensation reaction, the leaving group is displaced by the nitrogen atom of the triazole derivative to give the [1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl]amino substituent, optionally protected at the amino group. Relevant literature references for analogous transformations: Eur. Pat. Appl., 330959, 6 Sep. 1989, Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry (Translation of Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii), 34(7), 1032-1039; 1998; Russian Journal of Organic Chemistry (Translation of Zhurnal Organicheskoi Khimii), 37(8), 1158-1168; 2001

Step 2

In this step the amine is generated from the bis-amino-protected precursor. Such deprotection steps are standard procedures and well documented in the literature. When the protecting group is BOC, the deprotection is described in scheme 8, step 3. In some cases e.g. when U′ is C₁-C₆-alkyl-CO, the deprotection consists of a hydrolysis preferentially under acidic conditions.

wherein the meanings of the G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃, V₄ are as defined for compounds of formula I and wherein U″ has the meaning R², C₁-C₈-alkoxy, C₃-C₈-alkenyloxy or benzyloxy, wherein R² is as defined above.

Transformation 1

The acylation at the amino function is usually carried out using an acyl chloride (Cl—CO—U″) or carboxylic acid anhydride (U″—CO—O—CO—U″ or e.g. U″—CO—O—CO—C(CH₃)₃). Typical solvents used include CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, ClCH₂CH₂Cl, diethyl ether, THF, dioxane, toluene, cyclohexane, pyridine, ethyl acetate, MeCN. The reaction is typically done in the presence of a base such as Hünig's base or triethylamine. The acylation can be done with or without an acylation catalyst such as pyridine, 4-dimethylamino-pyridine or 4-pyrrolidino-pyridine. Most often, such acylation catalysts are used together with a base such as triethylamine or Hünig's base. In certain cases the reaction is carried out in water in the presence of an inorganic base such as sodium or potassium hydroxide or carbonate. Relevant literature references include the following: Russ. 2290398, 27 Dec. 2006; Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds, 41(9), 1139-1146, 2005; Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50(6), 1383-1388; 2002; Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry, 24(1), 127-42; 1987; Heterocyclic Communications, 13(1), 73-76; 2007

Transformation 2

As for transformation 1 but with the stoichiometry adjusted such that a bis-acylation at the nitrogen atom takes place. Relevant literature references include: Zeitschrift fuer Chemie, 17(6), 220-1; 1977; Monatshefte fuer Chemie, 135(2), 173-184; 2004; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 53(3), 1117-1127; 2010; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 53(10), 4266-4276; 2010; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 43(1), 27-40; 2000; Zeitschrift fuer Chemie, 17(6), 220-1; 1977.

where the meanings of G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃, V₄ are as defined for compounds of formula I.

V₁′ and V₂′, independently of each other, have the following meanings:

C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or benzyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy or C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.

Step 1 was already dealt with in scheme 7, transformation 2.

Step 2

This is an alkylation of a BOC-protected secondary amine. The process is not limited to the use of a BOC-protected amine, though; an acetyl protected amine could be used instead, for example. The BOC protecting group is chosen to illustrate the principle.

The BOC-protected amine is treated with a base such as sodium hydride, LDA, sodium or potassium alcoholate (e. g. tert-butylate), sodium or potassium carbonate, and with an alkylating agent. Such alkylating agents include Cl—V₁′, Br—V₁′, I—V₁′, MeSO₂O—V₁′, p-Me-C₆H₄—SO₂O—V₁′, CF₃SO₂O—V₁′. Preferred solvents to carry out this transformation include diethyl ether, THF, dioxane, toluene, DMF, NMP, much depending on the chosen reaction conditions. Literature references relevant to this transformation include: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 17(16), 4495-4499; 2007; PCT Int. Appl., 2006107923, 12 Oct. 2006; Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 32(2), 409-17; 1989; PCT Int. Appl., 2006107923, 12 Oct. 2006; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 16(11), 2842-2845; 2006

Step 3

This step consists of removing the BOC-protecting group. This is suitably carried out under acidic conditions. These include mixtures of CH₂Cl₂ and trifluoro acetic acid (e.g. using the two components in a 1:1 ratio (v:v)), trifluoro acetic acid alone, acetic acid (preferably at elevated temperature), HCl in a number of solvents (e.g. water, diethyl ether, MeOH) or HBr in acetic acid. Relevant literature references include the following: Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 47(19), 3581-3583; 2008; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 18(2), 663-674; 2010; Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(29), 9868-9869; 2009; U.S. Pat. Appl. Publ., 20090186879, 23 Jul. 2009

Step 4

This step consists of alkylation, alkenylation, alkynylaton or benzylation of a secondary amine to obtain a tertiary amine. Typically the secondary amine is treated with a strong base such as sodium hydride or LDA, followed by the addition of an alkylating agent, for example. Such alkylating agents include Cl—V₂′, Br—V₂′, I—V₂′, MeSO₂O—V₂′, p-Me-C6H4-SO₂O—V₂′ and CF₃SO₂O—V₂′. For the case where V₂′ is methyl or ethyl, preferred reagents are MeO—SO₂—OMe and EtO—SO₂—OEt. Relevant literature references include the following: PCT Int. Appl., 2006031878, 23 Mar. 2006; Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 12(1), 139-149; 2004; PCT Int. Appl., 2010138487, 2 Dec. 2010; European Journal of Organic Chemistry, (9), 2419-2428; 1999.

where the meanings of G, Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, V₃ and V₄ are as defined for compounds of formula I.

X″ is a halogen, preferably Cl, Br or I. More preferably X″ is Br

Step 1

The step consist of a Suzuki, Stille, Sonogashira or other similar cross coupling reactions. Typically, the halogenated starting material, preferably chloro, bromo or iodo, is reacted with an acetylene or an organometallic reagent of formula M[G-Y1], wherein M is InCl₂, InCl(G-Y1), In(G-Y1)₂, MgCl, MgBr, Sn(R₇)₃, ZnCl, ZnBr or B(OR₇)₂, wherein either R₇ is independently from each other hydrogen, C₁-C₆alkyl or wherein two R₇ together can form a C₃-C₈cycloalkyl, and a catalyst, such as tetrakistriphenylphosphinepalladium, palladium dichloride, [1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II), palladium acetate or bis(diphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride.

It has now been found that the compounds of formula (I) according to the invention have, for practical purposes, a very advantageous spectrum of activities for protecting useful plants against diseases that are caused by phytopathogenic microorganisms, such as fungi, bacteria or viruses.

The invention therefore also relates to a method of controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, especially fungi, wherein a compound of formula (I) is applied as active ingredient to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof. The compounds of formula (I) according to the invention are distinguished by excellent activity at low rates of application, by being well tolerated by plants and by being environmentally safe. They have very useful curative, preventive and systemic properties and are used for protecting numerous useful plants. The compounds of formula (I) can be used to inhibit or destroy the diseases that occur on plants or parts of plants (fruit, blossoms, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of different crops of useful plants, while at the same time protecting also those parts of the plants that grow later e.g. from phytopathogenic microorganisms.

It is also possible to use compounds of formula (I) as dressing agents for the treatment of plant propagation material, in particular of seeds (fruit, tubers, grains) and plant cuttings (e.g. rice), for the protection against fungal infections as well as against phytopathogenic fungi occurring in the soil.

Furthermore the compounds of formula (I) according to the invention may be used for controlling fungi in related areas, for example in the protection of technical materials, including wood and wood related technical products, in food storage or in hygiene management.

The compounds of formula (I) are particularly effective to protect useful plants or plant propagation material thereof against phytopathogenic fungi belonging to the following classes: Ascomycetes (e.g. the genus Cochliobolus, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Gaeumannomyces, Giberella, Monographella, Microdochium, Penicillium, Phoma, Pyricularia, Magnaporthe, Septoria, Pseudocercosporella, Tapesia and Thielaviopsis); Basidiomycetes (e.g. the genus Phakopsora, Puccinia, Rhizoctonia, Thanatephorus, Sphacelotheca, Tilletia, Typhula and Ustilago); Fungi imperfecti (also known as Deuteromycetes; e.g. the genus Ascochyta, Diplodia, Erysiphe, Fusarium, Helminthosporium, Phomopsis, Pyrenophora and Verticillium); Oomycetes (e.g. Aphanomyces, Peronospora, Peronosclerospora, Phytophthora, Plasmopara, Pseudoperonospora, Pythium); and Zygomycets (e.g. the genus Rhizopus).

Within the scope of the invention, useful plants to be protected typically comprise the following species of plants: cereal (wheat, barley, rye, oat, rice, maize, sorghum and related species); beet (sugar beet and fodder beet); pomes, drupes and soft fruit (apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries); leguminous plants (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans); oil plants (rape, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor oil plants, cocoa beans, groundnuts); cucumber plants (pumpkins, cucum-bers, melons); fibre plants (cotton, flax, hemp, jute); citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, mandarins); vegetables (spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, paprika); lauraceae (avocado, cinnamomum, camphor) or plants such as tobacco, nuts, coffee, eggplants, sugar cane, tea, pepper, vines, hops, bananas and natural rubber plants, as well as ornamentals.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also useful plants that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides like bromoxynil or classes of herbicides (such as, for example, HPPD inhibitors, ALS inhibitors, for example primisulfuron, prosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron, EPSPS (5-enol-pyrovyl-shikimate-3-phosphate-synthase) inhibitors, GS (glutamine synthetase) inhibitors or PPO (protoporphyrinogen-oxidase) inhibitors) as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis) is Clearfield® summer rape (Canola). Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicides by genetic engineering methods include glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady®, Herculex I® and LibertyLink®.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also useful plants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that they are capable of synthesising one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.

Examples of such plants are: YieldGard® (maize variety that expresses a CryIA(b) toxin); YieldGard Rootworm® (maize variety that expresses a CryIIIB(b1) toxin); YieldGard Plus® (maize variety that expresses a CryIA(b) and a CryIIIB(b1) toxin); Starlink® (maize variety that expresses a Cry9(c) toxin); Herculex I® (maize variety that expresses a CryIF(a2) toxin and the enzyme phosphinothricine N-acetyltransferase (PAT) to achieve tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium); NuCOTN 33B® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) toxin); Bollgard I® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) toxin); Bollgard II® (cotton variety that expresses a CryIA(c) and a CryIIA(b) toxin); VIPCOT® (cotton variety that expresses a VIP toxin); NewLeaf® (potato variety that expresses a CryIIIA toxin); Nature-Gard® Agrisure® GT Advantage (GA21 glyphosate-tolerant trait), Agrisure® CB Advantage (Bt11 corn borer (CB) trait), Agrisure® RW (corn rootworm trait) and Protecta®.

The term “useful plants” is to be understood as including also useful plants which have been so transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques that they are capable of synthesising antipathogenic substances having a selective action, such as, for example, the so-called “pathogenesis-related proteins” (PRPs, see e.g. EP-A-0 392 225). Examples of such antipathogenic substances and transgenic plants capable of synthesising such antipathogenic substances are known, for example, from EP-A-0 392 225, WO 95/33818, and EP-A-0 353 191. The methods of producing such transgenic plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in the publications mentioned above.

The term “locus” of a useful plant as used herein is intended to embrace the place on which the useful plants are growing, where the plant propagation materials of the useful plants are sown or where the plant propagation materials of the useful plants will be placed into the soil. An example for such a locus is a field, on which crop plants are growing.

The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of the plant, such as seeds, which can be used for the multiplication of the latter, and vegetative material, such as cuttings or tubers, for example potatoes. There may be mentioned for example seeds (in the strict sense), roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants. Germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil, may also be mentioned. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion. Preferably “plant propagation material” is understood to denote seeds.

The compounds of formula (I) can be used in unmodified form or, preferably, together with carriers and adjuvants conventionally employed in the art of formulation.

Therefore the invention also relates to compositions for controlling and protecting against phytopathogenic microorganisms, comprising a compound of formula (I) and an inert carrier, and to a method of controlling or preventing infestation of useful plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms, wherein a composition, comprising a compound of formula (I) as active ingredient and an inert carrier, is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof.

To this end compounds of formula (I) and inert carriers are conveniently formulated in known manner to emulsifiable concentrates, coatable pastes, directly sprayable or dilutable solutions, dilute emulsions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts, granulates, and also encapsulations e.g. in polymeric substances. As with the type of the compositions, the methods of application, such as spraying, atomising, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances. The compositions may also contain further adjuvants such as stabilizers, antifoams, viscosity regulators, binders or tackifiers as well as fertilizers, micronutrient donors or other formulations for obtaining special effects.

Suitable carriers and adjuvants (auxiliaries) can be solid or liquid and are substances useful in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders or fertilizers. Such carriers are for example described in WO 97/33890.

The compounds of formula (I) or compositions, comprising a compound of formula (I) as active ingredient and an inert carrier, can be applied to the locus of the plant or plant to be treated, simultaneously or in succession with further compounds. These further compounds can be e.g. fertilizers or micronutrient donors or other preparations which influence the growth of plants. They can also be selective herbicides as well as insecticides, fungicides, bactericides, nematicides, molluscicides or mixtures of several of these preparations, if desired together with further carriers, surfactants or application promoting adjuvants customarily employed in the art of formulation.

A preferred method of applying a compound of formula (I), or a composition, comprising a compound of formula (I) as active ingredient and an inert carrier, is foliar application. The frequency of application and the rate of application will depend on the risk of infestation by the corresponding pathogen. However, the compounds of formula (I) may also penetrate the plant through the roots via the soil (systemic action) by drenching the locus of the plant with a liquid formulation, or by applying the compounds in solid form to the soil, e.g. in granular form (soil application). In crops of water rice such granulates can be applied to the flooded rice field. The compounds of formula (I) may also be applied to seeds (coating) by impregnating the seeds or tubers either with a liquid formulation of the fungicide or coating them with a solid formulation.

A formulation, i.e. a composition comprising the compound of formula (I) and, if desired, a solid or liquid adjuvant, is prepared in a known manner, typically by intimately mixing and/or grinding the compound with extenders, for example solvents, solid carriers and, optionally, surface-active compounds (surfactants).

The agrochemical formulations will usually contain from 0.1 to 99% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 95% by weight, of the compound of formula (I), 99.9 to 1% by weight, preferably 99.8 to 5% by weight, of a solid or liquid adjuvant, and from 0 to 25% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 25% by weight, of a surfactant.

Whereas it is preferred to formulate commercial products as concentrates, the end user will normally use dilute formulations.

Advantageous rates of application are normally from 5 g to 2 kg of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare (ha), preferably from 10 g to 1 kg a.i./ha, most preferably from 20 g to 600 g a.i./ha. When used as seed drenching agent, convenient rates of application are from 10 mg to 1 g of active substance per kg of seeds. The rate of application for the desired action can be determined by experiments. It depends for example on the type of action, the developmental stage of the useful plant, and on the application (location, timing, application method) and can, owing to these parameters, vary within wide limits.

The compounds of formula (I), or a pharmaceutical salt thereof, described above may also have an advantageous spectrum of activity for the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infection in an animal. “Animal” can be any animal, for example, insect, mammal, reptile, fish, amphibian, preferably mammal, most preferably human. “Treatment” means the use on an animal which has microbial infection in order to reduce or slow or stop the increase or spread of the infection, or to reduce the infection or to cure the infection. “Prevention” means the use on an animal which has no apparent signs of microbial infection in order to prevent any future infection, or to reduce or slow the increase or spread of any future infection.

According to the present invention there is provided the use of a compound of formula (I) in the manufacture of a medicament for use in the treatment and/or prevention of microbial infection in an animal. There is also provided the use of a compound of formula (I) as a pharmaceutical agent. There is also provided the use of a compound of formula (I) as an antimicrobial agent in the treatment of an animal. According to the present invention there is also provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. This composition can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of antimicrobial infection in an animal. This pharmaceutical composition can be in a form suitable for oral administration, such as tablet, lozenges, hard capsules, aqueous suspensions, oily suspensions, emulsions dispersible powders, dispersible granules, syrups and elixirs. Alternatively this pharmaceutical composition can be in a form suitable for topical application, such as a spray, a cream or lotion. Alternatively this pharmaceutical composition can be in a form suitable for parenteral administration, for example injection. Alternatively this pharmaceutical composition can be in inhalable form, such as an aerosol spray.

The compounds of formula (I) may be effective against various microbial species able to cause a microbial infection in an animal. Examples of such microbial species are those causing Aspergillosis such as Aspergillus fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terrus, A. nidulans and A. niger; those causing Blastomycosis such as Blastomyces dermatitidis; those causing Candidiasis such as Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C. lusitaniae; those causing Coccidioidomycosis such as Coccidioides immitis; those causing Cryptococcosis such as Cryptococcus neoformans; those causing Histoplasmosis such as Histoplasma capsulatum and those causing Zygomycosis such as Absidia corymbifera, Rhizomucor pusillus and Rhizopus arrhizus. Further examples are Fusarium Spp such as Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium solani and Scedosporium Spp such as Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedosporium prolificans. Still further examples are Microsporum Spp, Trichophyton Spp, Epidermophyton Spp, Mucor Spp, Sporothorix Spp, Phialophora Spp, Cladosporium Spp, Petriellidium spp, Paracoccidioides Spp and Histoplasma Spp.

The compositions of this invention may contain other compounds having biological activity, for example micronutrients or compounds having fungicidal activity or which possess plant growth regulating, herbicidal, insecticidal, nematicidal or acaricidal activity.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting Examples illustrate the above-described invention in greater detail without limiting it. Those skilled in the art will promptly recognise appropriate variations from the procedures both as to reactants and as to reaction conditions and techniques. All references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Example P1 Preparation of 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a) Preparation of 5-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine; to a         stirred solution of benzaldehyde (1.0 g, 9 mmol) and cyanamide         (1.7 g, 40 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL) at 5-10° C. under inert         atmosphere was added portionwise t-BuONa. The reaction mixture         was then warmed to room temperature and stirred for 30 minutes.         To this stirring mixture, recrystallized N-bromosuccinimide was         added in portions. The reaction mixture was heated under reflux         for 6 h and the reaction progress was monitored by TLC. Upon         completion of reaction, the mixture was diluted with ice water         (˜50 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×20 mL). The organic         layer was separated, washed with brine (50 mL), filtered and         dried over Na₂SO₄. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the         crude residue was chromatographed on silica gel (8% EtOAc in         hexanes) to afford 5-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (0.80 g,         49%) as a white solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm=8.07-8.04 (m, 2H), 7.62-7.58 (m, 1H), 7.52-7.48 (m, 2H), 4.49-4.44 (q, 2H), 1.46-1.42 (t, 3H); LC-MS: [M+H]⁺=174.90

-   -   b) To a stirred solution of 4-methoxy-3-nitro-pyridine (10.0 g,         65 mmol) in ethanol (100 mL) at room temperature was added         cyclohexylamine (14.2 g, 143 mmol). The clear solution was then         heated under reflux for 12 h and progress was monitored by TLC.         Upon completion of the reaction, the volatiles were removed in         vacuo to give crude material which was subjected to flash column         chromatography (50% ethyl acetate in hexanes) to afford         4-cyclohexylamino-3-nitro-pyridine (14.1 g, 98% yield) as a pale         yellow solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm=9.19 (s, 1H), 8.24-8.22 (d, 1H), 8.18-8.17 (m, 1H), 6.70-6.69 (d, 1H), 3.52-3.48 (m, 1H), 2.04-2.02 (m, 2H), 1.82-1.79 (m, 2H), 1.68-1.65 (m, 1H), 1.45-1.39 (m, 5H); LC-MS [M+H]⁺=222

-   -   c) To a solution of 4-cyclohexylamino-3-nitro-pyridine (14.0 g,         63 mmol) in ethanol (150 mL) under inert atmosphere was added         10% Pd/C (1.5 g). the reaction mixture was flushed with nitrogen         followed by hydrogen gas for 2-3 times. The reaction mixture was         then stirred under hydrogen atmosphere at room temperature for         12 h. Progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC. After         completion of the reaction, the mixture was filtered through a         celite bed and the filter cake washed with methanol (N200 mL).         The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the desired title         3-amino-4-cyclohexylamino-pyridine (11.2 g, 92%) as a brown         solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=7.61 (s, 1H), 7.55-7.54 (d, 1H), 6.34-6.33 (d, 1H), 4.97-4.95 (d, 1H), 4.55 (s, 2H), 3.28-3.21 (m, 1H), 1.94-1.92 (m, 2H), 1.74-1.71 (m, 2H), 1.62-1.59 (m, 1H), 1.40-1.30 (m, 2H), 1.22-1.14 (m 3H); LC-MS [M+H]⁺=192

-   -   d) To a stirred solution of 3-amino-4-cyclohexylamino-pyridine         (3.0 g, 16 mmol) in THF (30 mL) at room temperature was added         1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole (4.2 g; 26 mmol) and the resulting         mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. Reaction progress was         monitored by TLC. Upon completion of the reaction, the mixture         was concentrated in vacuo to give crude material which was         purified by flash column chromatography (3% methanol in         dichloromethane) to afford         1-cyclohexyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-thione (3.2         g, 87%) as a brown solid.

¹HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=13.15 (br, 1H), 8.42 (s, 1H), 8.27-8.26 (d, 1H), 7.72-7.71 (d, 1H), 5.04-4.98 (m, 1H), 2.12-2.10 (m, 2H), 1.88-1.86 (m, 2H), 1.72-1.69 (m, 3H), 1.45-1.36 (m, 3H); LC-MS: [M+H]⁺=234

-   -   e) To a stirred suspension of         1-cyclohexyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-thione (3.0         g, 13 mmol) in a mixture of acetic acid (72 mL) and 48% aqueous         HBr (1 mL, 18 mmol) at 0° C. was slowly added bromine (2.4 mL,         46 mmol). The thick orange mixture thus formed was stirred for         4.5 h. The mixture was then diluted with zed water (48 mL), and         the product was neutralized by the addition of solid NaOH         pellets until the pH reached 7. The resulting mixture was         extracted with ethyl acetate (3×50 mL). The organic layer was         separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and the solvent removed         in vacuo to dryness. The resulting residue was purified by flash         column chromatography (50% ethyl acetate in hexanes) to afford         2-bromo-1-(cyclohexyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (2.04 g, 56%)         as a yellow solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃): δ ppm=8.99 (s, 1H), 8.37-8.36 (d, 1H), 7.49-7.47 (d, 1H), 4.51-4.44 (m, 1H), 2.17-2.10 (m, 2H), 1.99-1.97 (m, 4H), 1.85-1.82 (m, 1H), 1.51-1.44 (m, 2H), 1.34-1.24 (m, 1H); LC-MS [M+H]⁺=280

-   -   f) To a suspension of sodium hydride (32 mg, 1.3 mmol) in         anhydrous DMF (2 mL) at 0° C. was added a solution of         5-phenyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (150 mg, 1.3 mmol). The         reaction mixture was then warmed to at room temperature, stirred         for 15 minutes and cooled back to 0° C. To this mixture was         added dropwise a solution of         2-bromo-1-(cyclohexyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (340 mg, 1.2         mmol) in DMF (0.5 mL). The reaction mixture was allowed to warm         to room temperature and heated at 100° C. for 6 h. The reaction         was monitored by TLC. After completion, the reaction mixture was         diluted with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×10 mL).         The organic layer was separated, washed with brine, dried over         Na₂SO₄ and, after filtration, was evaporated to dryness in         vacuo. The crude material thus obtained was purified by         preparative HPLC to afford         2-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-phenyl-2H-[1,2,4]-triazol-3-ylamine         (100 mg, 31%) as a white solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=8.98 (s, 1H), 8.40-8.38 (d, 1H), 7.99-7.94 (m, 3H), 7.52-7.45 (m, 3H), 7.39 (br, 2H), 4.96-4.88 (m, 1H), 2.23-2.15 (m, 2H), 2.03-2.00 (m, 2H), 1.89 (m, 2H), 1.67 (m, 1H), 1.38 (m, 3H); melting point 222-225° C.;

LC-MS: [M+H]⁺=360; HPLC (purity): 97.23%

Example P2 Preparation of 2-[1-ethyl-7-(p-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a) To a mixture of 5-bromo-N4-ethyl-pyridine-3,4-diamine (6.5 g,         30 mmol) and carbon disulfide (3 equiv., 90 mmol) in ethanol (10         mL/g), was added an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (3         equiv., 90 mmol) and the mixture was stirred overnight at 65° C.         and allowed to return to room temperature. The reaction mixture         was diluted with water, neutralized with acetic acid and the         solids obtained were filtered off and washed with water and         little ethanol to afford         7-bromo-1-ethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-thione (6.0 g, 77%         yield) as a light brown solid.

¹-HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=13.43 (br, 1H), 8.41 (s, 1H), 8.37 (s, 1H), 4.58-4.52 (q, 2H), 1.31-1.28 (t, 3H); melting point 250-255° C.

LC-MS: [M+H]⁺=258, 260

-   -   b) To a stirred suspension of         7-bromo-1-ethyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-2-thione (1.0 g, 3.9         mmol) in acetic acid (10 mL/g) and hydrogen bromide (48 mass %)         in water (1.5 equiv., 5.8 mmol), bromine (4 equiv., 15.5 mmol)         was added slowly at 0° C. The thick orange mixture thus formed         was stirred for 12 h. The mixture was then concentrated, diluted         with deionized water (10 mL), and the product was neutralized by         the addition of solid NaOH pellets. The resulting mixture was         further diluted with deionized water (15 mL) and extracted with         ethyl acetate (3×50 mL). The organic layers were combined, dried         over Na₂SO₄ and evaporated. The crude residue was purified by         flash column chromatography (30 to 80% ethyl acetate gradient in         hexanes) to afford 2,7-dibromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine         (0.30 g, 30% yield) as a yellow solid.

¹H-NMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=8.88 (s, 1H), 8.49 (s, 1H), 4.56-4.51 (q, 2H), 1.40-1.36 (t, 3H). LC-MS [M+1]=304, 306

-   -   c) To a stirred solution of 1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine (1.1         equiv., 1.1 mmol) in anhydrous DMF (2 ml) under inert atmosphere         at 0° C. was slowly added cesium carbonate (1.5 equiv., 1.5         mmol). To this mixture was added a solution of         2,7-dibromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine (0.30 g, 1.0 mmol) in         DMF. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room         temperature and then heated to 35° C. The reaction was monitored         by TLC and upon completion the mixture was cooled, diluted with         water and extracted with ethyl acetate (3×15 mL). The organic         layers were combined, washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and         evaporated to dryness. The crude residue was then purified by         flash chromatography (0 to 5% methanol gradient in         dichloromethane) to afford         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as an off white solid (0.125 g, 41% yield)

¹-HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=8.94 (s, 1H), 8.54 (s, 1H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 7.43 (br, 2H), 4.72-4.67 (q, 2H), 1.46-1.43 (t, 3H); melting point 237-239° C.

-   -   d) To a solution of         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.04 g, 0.1 mmol) in 1,2-dimethoxyethane (0.6 mL) in a round         bottom flask covered with aluminium foil was added         p-tolylboronic acid (1.5 equiv., 0.2 mmol) and aqueous sodium         carbonate (2M, 3 equiv., 0.4 mmol). The reaction mixture was         degassed for 20 minutes, then         [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II)         dichloromethane complex (0.05 equiv., 0.006 mmol) was added and         the reaction mixture was heated 3 h at 80° C. The reaction         mixture was then concentrated under educed pressure, diluted         with water and extracted with ethyl acetate (2×10 mL). The         organic layers were combined, washed with water (2×5 mL), brine         (1×5 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated under reduced         pressure. The crude residue was purified by flash column         chromatography (0-10% MeOH gradient in dichloromethane) to         afford         2-[1-ethyl-7-(p-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.026 g, 60% yield) as a white solid.

¹-HNMR (400 MHz, DMSO): δ ppm=8.98 (s, 1H), 8.10 (s, 1H), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.46-7.44 (d, 2H), 7.40 (br, 2H), 7.36-7.34 (d, 2H), 4.11-4.09 (q, 2H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.46-1.43 (t, 3H); melting point 234-236° C.

Example P3 Preparation of 2-(2-(7-ethyl-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a)         2-(7-bromo-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         was obtained following the procedure described in example 2         using 5-bromo-N4-propyl-pyridine-3,4-diamine as starting         material (steps a, b and c). To a solution of         2-(7-bromo-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.100 g, 0.310 mmol) in dry DMF (0.9 mL) was added         tetraethylstannane (0.088 g, 0.074 mL, 0.37 mmol) followed by         Pd(PPh3)4 (0.072 g, 0.062 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated         at 170° C. under MW irradiation for 20 min. Water was added         followed by AcOEt and 2 spoons of K2CO3, and the reaction         mixture was stirred overnight at rt. The solution was then         extracted with AcOEt, and the combined organic layers were         washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered, concentrated and         purified by Isco combiflash Rf using DCM/MeOH to give         2-(7-ethyl-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a white solid.

1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 0.87 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H), 1.34 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 3H), 1.71-1.82 (m, 2H), 2.96 (q, J=7.6 Hz, 2H), 4.65-4.75 (m, 2H), 6.53 (br. s, 2H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 8.21 (br. s, 1H), 8.79 (br. s, 1H)

Example P4 Preparation of 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile

-   -   a) To a solution of         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.400 g, 1.30 mmol) in dry DMF (3.7 mL) was added tributyltin         cyanide (0.492 g, 1.56 mmol) followed by Pd(PPh3)4 (C, 0.300 g,         0.260 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated at 150° C. under MW         irradiation for 30 min. Water was added followed by AcOEt and         solid K2CO3, and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at         rt. The solution was extracted with AcOEt. The combined organic         layers were washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, filtered,         concentrated and purified by Isco combiflash Rf using DCM/MeOH         as eluent to give         2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile         as a grey solid. 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ ppm 1.56 (t, J=7.0         Hz, 3H), 5.03 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 6.78 (br. s, 2H), 7.64 (s, 1H),         8.70 (s, 1H), 9.04 (s, 1H)

Example P5 Preparation of 1-[2-(7-acetyl-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione

-   -   a) To a solution of         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (3.2 g) and in DMF (48 mL) under nitrogen was added         tributyl(1-ethoxyvinyl)stannane (1.1 equiv.) and PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂         (0.05 equiv.) and the reaction was heated at 100° C. for 5 h and         then stirred at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture         was quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate. The         combined organic layers were washed with water, sodium         bicarbonate solution and brine, dried over sodium sulphate and         concentrated. The product material was then purified by         Combiflash using 0-5% MeOH in DCM to afford         2-[7-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a white solid.

Melting point: 193-195° C.

-   -   b) To a solution of         2-[7-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (2.3 g) in methanol (23 mL) was added 23 mL of 2N hydrochloric         acid, and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature         overnight. The reaction mixture was then concentrated,         neutralized with a sodium bicarbonate solution and extracted         with ethyl acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with         water and brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated.         The crude material was then purified by Combiflash using 0-5%         MeOH in DCM to afford         1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone         as a white solid.

Melting point: 242-244° C.

-   -   c) To a suspension of         1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone         (0.080 g, 0.30 mmol) in xylene (1.5 mL) was added succinic         anhydride (0.030 g, 0.30 mmol) followed by triethylamine (0.030         g, 0.041 mL, 0.30 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred for 1         h30 at 125° C. The reaction was cooled to rt and the solvent was         evaporated. The residue was purified by Isco combiflash Rf using         DCM/MeOH as eluent to give         1-[2-(7-acetyl-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione         as a white solid.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.24 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.84 (s, 4H), 4.64 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 8.22 (s, 1H), 8.87 (s, 1H), 9.07 (s, 1H)

Example P6 Preparation of 2-[7-(2-cyclopropylethynyl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a) A solution of         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.10 g) and ethynylcyclopropane (1.5 equiv.) in 1.5 mL DMF and         0.5 mL triethylamine was degassed with N₂ for 10 min. CuI (0.02         equiv.) and PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ (0.02 equiv.) were then added and the         reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 4 h. The reaction         mixture was then quenched with water and extracted with ethyl         acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with water and         brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated. The residue         was then purified by Combiflash using 3-8% MeOH in DCM as the         eluent system to give         2-[7-(2-cyclopropylethynyl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a light brown solid.

Melting point: 188-192° C.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm: 0.78-0.90 (m, 2H), 0.92-1.04 (m, 2H), 1.43 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 1.65-1.75 (m, 1H), 4.72 (q, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 7.50 (s, 2H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 8.41 (br. s, 1H), 8.82-8.95 (m, 1H)

Example P7 Preparation of 2-[4-chloro-1-ethyl-7-(o-toll)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a)         2-[1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         was prepared according to procedures described in example 2,         using o-tolylboronic acid for the last step. To a solution of         2-[1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.75 g) in 45 mL dichloromethane was added 3-chloroperbonzoic         acid (2 equiv.) and the reaction mixture was stirred at RT for         10 h. Reaction mixture was then quenched with a solution of         thiosulphate, water was added and the aqueous layer was         extracted with 10% MeOH/DCM The combined organic layers were         dried over sodium sulphate, concentrated under reduced pressure         and the residue was purified by Combiflash using 0-10% MeOH in         DCM as the eluent system to give         2-[1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)-5-oxido-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-5-ium-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a light brown solid.

Melting point: 221-26° C.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm: 0.82 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.13 (s, 3H), 3.66 (m, 1H), 4.08 (m, 1H) 7.34-7.50 (m, 4H) 7.53 (s, 2H) 7.76 (s, 1H) 7.91 (d, J=1.76 Hz, 1H) 8.76 (d, J=1.76 Hz, 1H).

-   -   b) A mixture of         2-[1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)-5-oxido-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-5-ium-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.08 g) in 2.5 mL POCl₃ was heated under reflux for 5 h. The         reaction mixture was then slowly poured onto crushed ice,         neutralised with sodium bicarbonate and extracted with ethyl         acetate. The combined organic layers were washed with water and         brine, dried over sodium sulphate and concentrated under reduced         pressure. The residue was then purified by Combiflash using         0-10% MeOH in DCM as the eluent system to give         2-[4-chloro-1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a brown solid.

Melting point: 274-278° C.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm: 0.79 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H) 2.03 (s, 3H) 3.68 (m, 1H) 4.06 (m, 1H) 7.28-7.48 (m, 6H) 7.72 (s, 1H) 7.92 (s, 1H).

Example P8 Preparation of 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanol

-   -   a) To a mixture of         1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone         (0.025 g) in 0.75 mL of methanol (30 mL/g, 100 mass %) was         slowly added sodium borohydride (2 equiv.) The reaction mixture         was stirred at RT for 3 h after which it was concentrated under         reduced pressure, and redissolved in ethyl acetate. The organic         layer was washed with water and brine, dried over sodium         sulphate and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude         material was then purified by Combiflash using 0-5% MeOH in DCM         to afford         1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanol         as an off-white solid.

Melting point: 220-226° C.

Example P9 Preparation of 2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine and 2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

-   -   a) To a mixture of sodium hydride (2 equiv., 60% in oil) in 4 mL         DMF at 0° C. was added         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         (0.20 g). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature         for 20 min and then iodomethane (1.1 equivalent) was added. The         reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred         until no further evolution was observed. The reaction mixture         was then quenched with water and extracted with ethyl acetate.         The combined organic layers were dried over sodium sulphate and         concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude oily residue was         left still until some solid material settles down at the bottom         of the round bottom flask. The organic residue was decanted and         the solid mass so obtained was washed two times with diethyl         ether and dried in vacuo to afford         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         as a yellow solid. A small amount of         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine         was also formed (LCMS; RT=1.60, method B, [M+H]=321.         2-(7-bromo-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

Melting point: 159-161° C.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ ppm: 1.47 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H) 2.84 (s, 6H) 4.47 (q, J=7.1 Hz, 2H) 7.89 (s, 1H) 8.60 (s, 1H) 9.00 (s, 1H)

Example P10 Preparation of 2-[7-[N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine

To a solution of 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone (0.100 g, 0.369 mmol) in 3.7 mL acetonitrile was added O-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enyl]hydroxylamine hydrochloride (0.291 g, 1.84 mmol) followed by 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid (0.021 g, 0.12 mmol). The reaction mixture was heated at 120° C. under MW irradiation for 20 min. Water was added and the solution was extracted with AcOEt. The combined organic layers were washed with a sat. solution of NaHCO₃ and water, dried over MgSO₄, filtered, concentrated and purified as follow:

Autopurification System from Waters: 2767 sample Manager, 2489 UV/Visible Detector, 2545 Quaternary Gradient Module.

Column: Phenomenex Gemini NX C18, 4 micron particle size, 80 Angström, 75×30.00 mm, DAD Wavelength (nm): 220 and 254

Solvent Gradient: Reversed Phase

Time A % B % Flow (ml/min) 0.00 80 20 50.00 0.01 80 20 50.00 6.00 65 35 50.00 7.90 65 35 50.00 8.00 0 100 50.00 8.90 0 100 50.00 9.00 80 20 50.00 10.0 80 20 50.00 A = water (in House-HPLC quality) B = Acetonitrile for prep. HPLC to give 2-[7-[(Z)—N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (0.057 g, 0.15 mmol, 41% Yield) and 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (0.030 g, 0.080 mmol, 22% Yield) as white solids.

2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.26 (t, J=7.1 Hz, 3H), 2.02 (q, J=1.1 Hz, 3H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 4.36-4.47 (m, 1H), 4.54-4.66 (m, 2H), 4.78-4.87 (m, 1H), 5.53 (td, J=6.1, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 6.63 (br. s, 2H), 7.58 (s, 1H), 8.11 (br. s, 1H), 8.88 (br. s, 1H)

2-[7-[(Z)—N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine: ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ ppm 1.25 (t, J=7.0 Hz, 3H), 2.10 (q, J=1.2 Hz, 3H), 2.33 (s, 3H), 4.77-4.85 (m, 4H), 5.73 (tq, J=6.1, 1.3 Hz, 1H), 6.53 (br. s, 2H), 7.59 (s, 1H), 8.30 (br. s, 1H), 8.90 (br. s, 1H)

TABLE 17 Physical data of compounds of formula (I): RT [M + H]⁺ MP Entry IUPAC Names (min) (measured) Method (° C.) 1 2-(1-cyclopropylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.22 242 A 2 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.96 284 A 3 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 203-206 4 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-phenyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 222-225 5 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 212-215 6 5-butyl-2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 163-165 7 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-ethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 198-203 8 2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-5-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 196-199 9 5-benzyl-2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 219-222 10 2-(1-benzylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 224-229 11 1-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-diamine 236-238 12 2-[1-(2-phenylethyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 198-200 13 2-(1-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 210-212 14 2-(1-methylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 240-244 15 2-(7-bromo-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 231-232 16 2-(1-prop-1-enylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 199-200 17 2-(1-prop-2-enylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 215-216 18 2-(1H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 305-306 19 2-(1-ethyl-7-phenylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 247-251 20 5-bromo-2-(1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 217-221 21 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-phenylethenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 247-252 22 2-(1-ethyl-7-methylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 194-198 23 2-(1,7-diethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 176-179 24 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-phenylethyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 205-208 25 2-(7-benzyl-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 220-224 26 N-[2-(7-bromo-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetamide 238-240 27 N-[2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetamide 251-253 28 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 234-236 29 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-fluorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 275-277 30 2-[1-ethyl-7-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.06 374 U 31 2-[1-ethyl-7-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.05 374 U 32 2-[1-ethyl-7-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.00 374 U 33 2-[7-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.92 340 U 34 2-[7-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.96 340 U 35 2-[7-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.95 340 U 36 2-[7-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.12 374 U 37 2-[7-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.92 342 U 38 2-[7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.13 374 U 39 2-[7-(2,5-difluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.91 342 U 40 2-(1-ethyl-7-naphthalen-1-ylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.01 356 U 41 2-[1-ethyl-7-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.96 338 U 42 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-morpholin-4-ylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.78 390 U 43 2-[1-ethyl-7-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.82 354 U 44 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-methyl-3-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.93 365 U 45 2-[7-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.98 334 U 46 2-[7-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.99 334 U 47 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.97 364 U 48 2-[7-(2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.12 386 U 49 2-[7-[4-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.21 408 U amine 50 2-(1-ethyl-7-pyrimidin-5-ylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.51 308 U 51 2-[7-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.16 346 U 52 2-[7-(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.98 340 U 53 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.60 338 U 54 2-[1-ethyl-7-[6-(4-fluorophenyl)pyridin-3-yl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.05 401 U 55 2-[1-ethyl-7-(furan-3-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.65 296 U 56 2-[7-(2,6-dimethoxypyridin-3-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.88 367 U 57 2-(1-ethyl-7-isoquinolin-4-ylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.72 357 U 58 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-methoxypyridin-3-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.71 337 U 59 2-[1-ethyl-7-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.71 337 U 60 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluoropyridin-4-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.69 325 U 61 2-[1-ethyl-7-(1-methylpyrazol-4-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.51 310 U 62 2-(1-ethyl-7-isoquinolin-5-ylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.60 357 U 63 2-[1-ethyl-7-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.91 375 U 64 2-[7-(5-chloropyridin-3-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.77 341 U 65 2-[7-(6-chloro-5-methylpyridin-3-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.85 355 U 66 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluoroquinolin-3-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.97 375 U 67 2-(1-ethyl-7-prop-1-enylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.65 270 U 68 2-(1-ethyl-7-pent-1-enylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.90 298 U 69 2-[7-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.11 366 U 70 2-[7-(2-cyclohexylethenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.14 338 U 71 2-[1-ethyl-7-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethenyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.06 346 U 72 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.87 320 U 73 2-(1-ethyl-7-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.65 272 U 74 2-[7-(1-ethoxyethenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 193-195 75 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone 242-244 76 2-[7-bromo-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 234-236 77 2-(6-bromo-1-ethyl-7-methoxyimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 247-249 78 2-[7-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.52 442 U 79 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.02 324 U 80 2-[7-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.09 342 U 81 2-[7-(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1   366 U 82 2-[7-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.12 334 U 83 2-[7-(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.01 366 U 84 2-[1-ethyl-7-[2-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.3  392 U 85 2-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]benzonitrile 0.97 331 U 86 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2,3,4-trifluorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.2  360 U 87 2-[7-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.26 374 U 88 2-[7-(2,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.29 374 U 89 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.87 325 U 90 2-[7-(3-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.22 358 U 91 2-[7-(5-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.2  358 U 92 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.08 338 U 93 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluoro-3-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.03 354 U 94 2-[7-(2-chloro-4-methoxyphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.12 370 U 95 2-[1-ethyl-7-(4-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.03 354 U 96 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.06 354 U 97 2-[7-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.42 408 U amine 98 2-[7-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.23 358 U 99 2-[7-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.21 354 U 100 2-[7-(3,4-dichloro-2-fluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.4  392 U 101 2-[7-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.16 358 U 102 2-[7-(2,3-difluorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.12 342 U 103 2-[7-(2-chloropyridin-3-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.91 341 U 104 N-[3-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]phenyl]acetamide 0.84 363 U 105 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanol 220-226 106 2-(7-ethenyl-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 178-186 107 tert-butyl 4-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]-3,6-dihydro-2H- 183-186 pyridine-1-carboxylate 108 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]-3-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en- 205-209 1-one 109 2-[1-ethyl-7-(3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazol-5-yl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 201-209 amine 110 2-(7-bromo-1-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 207-208 111 2-(7-bromo-1-cyclopropylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 186-192 112 2-(7-bromo-1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 217-218 113 1-[2-(7-acetyl-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]pyrrolidine-2,5-dione 0.67 354 A 114 1-[2-[7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]pyrrolidine-2,5- 0.94 456 A dione 115 4-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]-2-methylbut-3-yn-2-ol 253-259 116 2-[1-ethyl-7-[2-(4-methylphenyl)ethynyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 211-218 117 2-[4-chloro-1-ethyl-7-(2-methylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 274-278 118 2-[7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.90 388 A 119 2-[1-cyclopropyl-7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.81 386 A 120 2-[1-cyclohexyl-7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.96 428 A 121 2-[7-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.75 338 A 122 2-[1-cyclopropyl-7-(2-fluorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.89 329 A 123 2-[7-(2-cyclopropylethynyl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 188-192 124 2-[1-ethyl-7-(2-methylphenyl)-5-oxidoimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-5-ium-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 221-226 125 2-[7-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-cyclopropylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.69 352 A 126 2-[7-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.86 394 A 127 2-[1-cyclohexyl-7-(2-fluorophenyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.83 378 A 128 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile 0.66 255 A 129 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-propylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile 0.73 269 A 130 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-cyclopropylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile 0.57 267 A 131 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-cyclohexylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbonitrile 0.81 309 A 132 2-(7-bromo-1-ethylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.30 336 B 159-161 133 2-[1-ethyl-7-[N-methoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.09/1.15 301 B 170-173 amine 134 2-[7-[N-ethoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 0.82/0.87 315 U 160-165 amine 135 2-[1-ethyl-7-[N-[(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.56 395 B 175-187 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 136 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone oxime 1.11/1.17 287 B 228-240 137 2-[1-ethyl-7-[N-[(2-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.53 395 B 159-171 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 138 2-[7-[N-allyloxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.34 327 B 142-146 amine 139 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-(p-tolylmethoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.57/1.62 391 B triazol-3-amine 140 2-[7-[N-tert-butoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.09/1.14 343 U 171-175 amine 141 2-[7-[N-(cyclopropylmethoxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.38/1.41 341 B 151-163 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 142 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-(2-pyridylmethoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.03 378 B 138-149 triazol-3-amine 143 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-propoxy-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 0.96/1.03 329 U amine 144 2-[7-[N-[(2-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.21/1.29 411 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 145 2-[7-[N-[(4-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.24/1.28 411 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 146 2-[1-ethyl-7-[N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2- 1.10/1.15 407 U yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 147 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-hexoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.34 371 U amine 148 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-hexoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.44 371 U amine 149 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.00 361 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 150 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.05 361 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 151 2-[7-[(Z)-N-(2-chloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.00 361 U triazol-3-amine 152 2-[7-[(E)-N-(2-chloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.06 361 U triazol-3-amine 153 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2- 1.11 375 U yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 154 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2- 1.16 375 U yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 155 2-[7-[N-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.17/1.22 395 U triazol-3-amine 156 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.11 355 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 157 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 1.16 355 U 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 158 ethyl 2-[(Z)-1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7- 0.96 387 U yl]ethylideneamino]oxypropanoate 159 ethyl 2-[(E)-1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7- 0.99 387 U yl]ethylideneamino]oxypropanoate 160 2-[7-[N-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 1.29/1.37 445 U 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 161 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-isobutoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 1.07 343 U 3-amine 162 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-isobutoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 1.16 343 U 3-amine 163 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-[(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 1.30/1.35 467 U c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 164 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-[(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 1.51/1.58 479 U 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 165 2-[7-[N-benzyloxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.10/1.16 377 U amine 166 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-isopropoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 0.93 329 U 3-amine 167 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-isopropoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 1.00 329 U 3-amine 168 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-phenoxy-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 1.15/1.20 363 U amine 169 2-[1-ethyl-7-[C-methyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.97/1.03 369 U triazol-3-amine 170 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.75 361 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 171 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.77 361 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 172 2-[7-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.79 354 A 173 2-(7-methyl-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.39 258 A 174 2-(7-ethyl-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.55 272 A 175 2-(1-cyclopropyl-7-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.18-0.23 256 A 176 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-but-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.76 341 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 177 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-but-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.80 341 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 178 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-(2-methylallyloxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.76 341 A triazol-3-amine 179 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-(2-methylallyloxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.79 341 A triazol-3-amine 180 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.82 375 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 181 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.84 375 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 182 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.82 375 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 183 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.85 375 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 184 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.88 389 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 185 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.90 389 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 186 2-[7-[N-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.91 409 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 187 2-[7-[(E)-N-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.93 409 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 188 2-[7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.87 369 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 189 2-[7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.91 369 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 190 2-(1,7-dipropylimidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.64 286 A 191 2-(1-methyl-7-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.19 292 B 215-217 192 2-[7-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.29 360 B 240-242 193 2-(7-bromo-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.02 294 B 226-227 194 N-[2-(7-bromo-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetamide 0.85 336 B 230-232 195 N-[2-[1-ethyl-7-(o-tolyl)imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]acetamide 192-194 196 2-[7-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.25 326 B 216-218 197 2-[7-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.04 310 B 198 2-[7-(1-ethoxyvinyl)-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 1.09 286 B 163-166 199 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone 0.26/0.48 258 B 245-249 200 2-[7-[(E)-N-ethoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 0.81/1.03 301 B 3-amine 201 2-[7-[(E)-N-methoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 0.46 287 B 3-amine 202 2-[7-[(E)-N-tert-butoxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.37 329 B triazol-3-amine 203 2-[7-[(E)-N-benzyloxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.41 363 B triazol-3-amine 204 2-[1-methyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-(p-tolylmethoxy)carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 1.47 377 B triazol-3-amine 205 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-[[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.94 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 206 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-[[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.96 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 207 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-[[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.93 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 208 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-[[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.96 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 209 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.94 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 210 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-[[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methoxy]carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5- 0.96 445 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 211 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.83 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 212 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.86 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 213 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.84 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 214 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.87 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 215 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.83 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 216 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.86 407 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 217 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(3-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.90 411 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 218 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(3-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.93 411 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 219 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(Z)-N-[(3-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2- 0.85 395 A yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 220 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-N-[(3-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2- 0.87 395 A yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 221 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(2-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5- 0.79 397 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 222 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(2-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5- 0.83 397 A c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 223 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(2-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.75 381 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 224 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(2-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.78 381 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 225 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.68 347 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 226 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.71 347 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 227 2-[7-[(Z)-N-(2-chloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.67 347 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 228 2-[7-[(E)-N-(2-chloroallyloxy)-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.71 347 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 229 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.74 361 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 230 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-methyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin- 0.77 361 A 2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 231 2-[7-[(Z)-N-[(E)-but-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.83 355 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 232 2-[7-[(E)-N-[(E)-but-2-enoxy]-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.86 355 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 233 2-[7-[(Z)-C-methyl-N-(2-methylallyloxy)carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.82 355 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 234 2-[7-[(E)-C-methyl-N-(2-methylallyloxy)carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]- 0.85 355 A 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 235 2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine-7-carbaldehyde 0.54 258 A 236 2-[7-[(Z)-N-benzyloxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.87 391 A triazol-3-amine 237 2-[7-[(E)-N-benzyloxy-C-methyl-carbonimidoyl]-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.89 391 A triazol-3-amine 238 2-(1-ethyl-7-isopropenyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.56 270 A 239 2-[7-[(E)-[(Z)-3-chloroallyloxy]iminomethyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3- 0.78 347 A amine 240 2-[7-(1,2-dimethylprop-1-enyl)-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.69 298 A 241 2-[7-[(E)-benzyloxyiminomethyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine 0.85 363 A 242 2-[1-ethyl-7-[(E)-(2-fluorophenyl)methoxyiminomethyl]imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4-triazol- 0.86 381 A 3-amine 243 2-[7-[(E)-[(E)-3-chlorobut-2-enoxy]iminomethyl]-1-ethyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-2-yl]-1,2,4- 0.86 361 A triazol-3-amine 244 1-[2-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-propyl-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-7-yl]ethanone 0.64 286 A

LC-MS Methods Used

Method A

ZQ Mass Spectrometer from Waters (Single quadrupole mass spectrometer)

Instrument Parameters:

Ionisation method: Electrospray

Polarity: positive and negative ions

-   -   Capillary (kV) 3.00, Cone (V) 30.00, Extractor (V) 2.00, Source         Temperature (° C.) 150, Desolvation Temperature (° C.) 250, Cone         Gas Flow (L/Hr) 50, Desolvation Gas Flow (L/Hr) 400Mass range:         100 to 900 Da         -   HP 1100 HPLC from Agilent:         -   Solvent degasser, binary pump, heated column compartment and             diode-array detector.

Column: Phenomenex Gemini C18, 3 μm, 30×3 mm

Temperature: 60° C.

DAD Wavelength range (nm): 210 to 500

Solvent Gradient:

Time A % B % Flow (mL/min) 0.00 100 0 1.700 2.00 0 100 1.700 2.80 0 100 1.700 2.90 100 0 1.700 3.00 100 0 1.700 A = water + 5% MeOH + 0.05% HCOOH B = Acetonitrile + 0.05% HCOOH

Method B

-   -   Mass Spectrometer: 6410 Triple quadrupole Mass Spectrometer from         Agilent Technologies     -   HPLC: Agilent 1200 Series HPLC     -   Ionisation method: Electrospray (ESI)     -   Polarity: positive and Negative Polarity Switch     -   Scan Type: MS2 Scan     -   Capillary (kV): 4.00     -   Fragmentor (V): 100.00     -   Gas Temperature (° C.): 350     -   Gas Flow (L/min): 11     -   Nebulizer Gas (psi): 35     -   Mass range: 110 to 1000 Da     -   DAD Wavelength range (nm): 190 to 400     -   Column: Waters Xterra MS C18     -   Column length: 30 mm     -   Internal diameter of column: 4.6 mm     -   Particle Size: 3.5μ     -   Temperature: Room Temperature

Gradient Conditions

(Solvent A: Water, 0.1% formic acid and Solvent B: Acetonitrile, 0.1% formic acid) Time (minutes) A (%) B (%) Flow rate (ml/min) 0 90 10 1.8 2.0 0 100 1.8 3.0 0 100 1.8 3.2 90 10 1.8 4.0 90 10 1.8

Method U

ACQUITY SQD Mass Spectrometer from Waters (Single quadrupole mass spectrometer)

Instrument Parameters:

-   -   Ionisation method: Electrospray     -   Polarity: positive ions     -   Capillary (kV) 3.00, Cone (V) 20.00, Extractor (V) 3.00, Source         Temperature (° C.) 150, Desolvation Temperature (° C.) 400, Cone         Gas Flow (L/Hr) 60, Desolvation Gas Flow (L/Hr) 700     -   Mass range: 100 to 800 Da     -   Column: Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3; Column length: 30 mm;         Internal diameter of column: 2.1 mm; Particle Size: 1.8 micron     -   Temperature: 60° C.     -   DAD Wavelength range (nm): 210 to 400

Solvent Gradient:

Time (min) A (%) B (%) Flow (ml/min) 0 100 0 0.75 2.5 0 100 0.75 2.8 0 100 0.75 3.0 100 0 0.75 Solvent A = Water/Methanol 9:1 + 0.1% formic acid Solvent B = Acetonitrile + 0.1% formic acid

Biological Examples Alternaria solani/Tomato/Leaf Disc (Early Blight)

Tomato leaf disks cv. Baby were placed on agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated leaf disks were incubated at 23° C./21° C. (day/night) and 80% relative humidity (rh) under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound was assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears on untreated check disk leaf disks (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Alternaria solani_at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 15, 55, 56, 67, 72, 147, 172

Phytophthora infestans/Tomato/Leaf Disc Preventative (Late Blight)

Tomato leaf disks were placed on water agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water at an application rate of 200 ppm. The leaf disks were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf disks were incubated at 16° C. and 75% relative humidity under a light regime of 24 h darkness followed by 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound was assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf disks (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Phytophthora infestans at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 125, 153

Plasmopara viticola/Grape/Leaf Disc Preventative (Late Blight)

Grape vine leaf disks were placed on water agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water. The leaf disks were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf disks were incubated at 19° C. and 80% relative humidity under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound was assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf disks (6-8 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Plasmopara viticola at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 19, 40, 45, 48, 79, 109, 118, 135, 137, 139, 144, 145, 146, 149, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 160, 161, 163, 165, 166, 169, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184

Puccinia recondita f. Sp. Tritici/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Brown Rust):

Wheat leaf segments cultivated variety (cv) Kanzler were placed on agar in 24-well plates and sprayed with formulated test compound diluted in water at an application rate of 200 ppm. The leaf disks were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf segments were incubated at 19° C. and 75% relative humidity under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound was assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (7-9 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Puccinia recondita f. sp. Tritici at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 2, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30, 33, 35, 36, 38, 41, 45, 47, 48, 54, 55, 56, 59, 61, 67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 109, 110, 121, 123, 134, 135, 137, 139, 140, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 172, 173, 174, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 187, 188, 189, 190

Puccinia recondita f. Sp. Tritici/Wheat/Leaf Disc Curative (Brown Rust):

Wheat leaf segments cv Kanzler were placed on agar in 24-well plates. The leaf segments were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus. The plates were stored in darkness at 19° C. and 75% relative humidity. The formulated test compound diluted in water was applied at an application rate of 200 ppm 1 day after inoculation. The leaf segments were incubated at 19° C. and 75% relative humidity under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (6-8 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Puccinia recondita f. sp. Tritici at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 2, 13, 16, 23, 30, 61, 75, 89, 103, 173, 174

Phaeosphaeria nodorum (Septoria nodorum)/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Glume Blotch):

Wheat leaf segments cv Kanzler were placed on agar in a 24-well plate and sprayed with formulated test compound diluted in water at an application rate of 200 ppm. The leaf disks are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus 2 days after application. The inoculated test leaf disks are incubated at 20° C. and 75% relative humidity under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf disks (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Phaeosphaeria nodorum at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 13, 15, 19, 22, 23, 30, 33, 37, 38, 39, 45, 48, 55, 59, 61, 66, 67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 83, 86, 88, 89, 90, 93, 94, 96, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 118, 121, 123, 137, 143, 144, 145, 147, 149, 151, 153, 155, 156, 165, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 182, 184, 188, 190

Pyrenophora Teres/Barley/Leaf Disc Preventative (Net Blotch):

Barley leaf segments cv Hasso are placed on agar in a 24-well plate and sprayed with formulated test compound diluted in water at an application rate of 200 ppm. The leaf segments are inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus two days after application of the test solution. The inoculated leaf segments are incubated at 20° C. and 65% relative humidity under a light regime of 12/12 h (light/dark) in a climate cabinet and the activity of a compound is assessed as disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears in untreated check leaf segments (5-7 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Pyrenophora teres at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 47, 48, 49, 51, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114, 118, 119, 121, 123, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 160, 161, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 188, 190

Botryotinia Fuckeliana (Botrytis cinerea)/Liquid Culture (Gray Mould):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (Vogels broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Botryotinia fuckeliana at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 1, 2, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 59, 61, 66, 67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 109, 110, 118, 121, 123, 126, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161, 163, 165, 166, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 188, 190

Glomerella lagenarium (Colletotrichum lagenarium)/Liquid Culture (Anthracnose):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth is measured photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Glomerella lagenarium at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 3, 6, 7, 8, 13, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 48, 55, 59, 67, 74, 76, 79, 80, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 112, 118, 121, 123, 129, 131, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 161, 163, 165, 166, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174

Mycosphaerella Arachidis (Cercospora arachidicola)/Liquid Culture (Early Leaf Spot):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Mycosphaerella arachidis at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 13, 15, 22, 23, 33, 38, 39, 45, 48, 55, 67, 68, 72, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 86, 90, 93, 98, 101, 102, 106, 123, 133, 134, 139, 140, 141, 147, 149, 152, 153, 155, 161, 163, 173, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184

Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici)/Liquid Culture (Septoria Blotch):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at 35 least 80% control of Mycosphaerella graminicola at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 1, 2, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 52, 54, 55, 56, 59, 61, 66, 67, 68, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 110, 118, 119, 121, 123, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190

Gaeumannomyces graminis/Liquid Culture (Take-all of Cereals):

Mycelial fragments of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth Cp.33, containing the fungal spores is added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Gaeumannomyces graminis at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 1, 2, 5, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 48, 55, 59, 66, 67, 68, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 118, 121, 123, 127, 128, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 153, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 178, 180, 181, 183, 184, 187, 188, 190

Thanatephorus cucumeris (Rhizoctonia solani)/Liquid Culture (Foot Rot, Damping-Off):

Mycelia fragments of a newly grown liquid culture of the fungus are directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of the test compounds into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal material was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Thanatephorus cucumeris at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 1, 2, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 61, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 108, 109, 110, 118, 119, 121, 123, 125, 128, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190

Monographella nivalis (Microdochium nivale)/Liquid Culture (Foot Rot Cereals):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 4-5 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Monographella nivalis at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 13, 15, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 33, 38, 39, 48, 55, 67, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 118, 123, 133, 134, 137, 138, 139, 144, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 155, 156, 165, 171, 172, 173, 174, 176, 177, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 188, 189, 190

Blumeria graminis f. Sp. Tritici (Erysiphe graminis f. Sp. Tritici)/Wheat/Leaf Disc Preventative (Powdery Mildew on Wheat):

Wheat leaf segments cv. Kanzler were placed on agar in a 24-well plate and sprayed with the formulated test compound diluted in water at an application rate of 200 ppm. The leaf disks were inoculated by shaking powdery mildew infected plants above the test plates 1 day after application. The inoculated leaf disks were incubated at 20° C. and 60% relative humidity under a light regime of 24 h darkness followed by 12 h/12 h (dark/light) in a climate chamber and the activity of a compound was assessed as percent disease control compared to untreated when an appropriate level of disease damage appears on untreated check leaf segments (6-8 days after application). The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Blumeria graminis at 200 ppm when compared to untreated control leaf disks under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 2, 13, 23, 50, 59, 61, 67, 75, 85, 86, 89, 90, 93, 102, 103, 107, 134, 136, 137, 138, 139, 141, 145, 151, 153, 154, 163, 173, 174

Pythium ultimum/Liquid Culture (Seedling Damping Off)

Mycelia fragments and oospores of a newly grown liquid culture of the fungus were directly mixed into nutrient broth (potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a 96-well format microtiter plate at an application rate of 200 ppm, the nutrient broth containing the fungal mycelia/spore mixture was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 2-3 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Pythium ultimum at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 6, 13, 19, 22, 23, 33, 38, 39, 55, 59, 67, 73, 79, 80, 85, 86, 89, 96, 101, 102, 106, 149, 172, 173, 174, 176, 180, 190

Fusarium culmorum/Liquid Culture (Head Blight):

Conidia of the fungus from cryogenic storage were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a DMSO solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format), the nutrient broth containing the fungal spores was added. The test plates were incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Fusarium culmorum at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 15, 23, 74, 79, 86, 88, 89, 90, 93, 96, 98, 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 147, 149, 153, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184

Gibberella zeae (Head Blight/Spikelet):

Fusarium graminearum, syn. Gibberella zeae, (Head blight): Wheat spikelets were placed on agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with test solutions. After drying, the spikelets were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus. After appropriate incubation the activity of a compound was assessed 6 dpi (days after inoculation) as preventative fungicidal activity. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Gibberella zeae at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 2, 13, 23, 89, 90, 93, 98, 102, 149.

Fusarium culmorum (Head Blight/Spikelet):

Fusarium culmorum (Head blight): Wheat spikelets were placed on agar in multiwell plates (24-well format) and sprayed with test solutions. After drying, the spikelets were inoculated with a spore suspension of the fungus. After appropriate incubation the activity of a compound was assessed 6 dpi (days after inoculation) as preventative fungicidal activity. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Fusarium culmorum at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 2, 13, 79, 90, 93, 98, 102.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Cottony Rot/White Mold):

Mycelia fragments of a newly grown liquid culture of the fungus were directly mixed into nutrient broth (PDB potato dextrose broth). After placing a (DMSO) solution of test compound into a microtiter plate (96-well format) the nutrient broth containing the fungal material was added. The test plates are incubated at 24° C. and the inhibition of growth was determined photometrically 3-4 days after application. The following compounds gave at least 80% control of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at 20 ppm when compared to untreated control under the same conditions, which show extensive disease development: 15, 22, 23, 30, 33, 35, 38, 39, 41, 48, 66, 67, 68, 73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 84, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 96, 97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 106, 123, 137, 139, 143, 144, 145, 147, 149, 150, 151, 153, 154, 155, 156, 161, 165, 171, 172, 176, 178, 180, 181, 182, 184, 188, 190 

1. A compound of the formula (I):

wherein Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, OR¹, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NR³COR², SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl; Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl; or Y₃ is defined as above and Y₁, and Y₂ together with the fragment of the compound to which they are attached form a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered carbocyclic ring or a partially or fully unsaturated 5- to 7-membered heterocyclic ring containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, and wherein the ring formed by Y₁ and Y₂ is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; G represents a bond, O, S, S(O), SO₂, C(O), CO₂, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷), C(R⁴)═C(R⁵), C≡C, O—C(R⁴)(R⁵), S—C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—O, C(R⁴)(R⁵)—S or phenyl; each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moeity; each R² is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl groups are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkylthio and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; each R³ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, CN, OR¹, COR², C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, and a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these radicals can be identical or different; wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, both of these radicals cannot be OR¹; and wherein when two radicals R³ are attached to the same nitrogen atom, these two radicals together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B-7 and B-8:

wherein the cycle formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; R⁴, R⁵, R⁶ and R⁷ independently of one another represent hydrogen, halogen, cyano, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₃-C₅ cycloalkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, or C₁-C₄ alkylthio; wherein two radicals R⁴ and R⁵ or R⁶ and R⁷ or R⁴ and R⁶ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached may form a 3- to 6-membered carbocycle or heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R⁸), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein carbocycle and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄-haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄-alkoxy-C₁-C₄-alkyl; R⁸ represents hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ haloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl or C₁-C₈ alkoxy-C₁-C₈ alkyl; V₁ and V₂ independently of one another represent hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, C₂-C₉ alkoxycarbonyl, C₄-C₉ alkenyloxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl or COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy or C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; and wherein V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form a cycle selected from B-9, B-10, B-11, B-12 and B-13:

wherein the cycle so formed is optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S, N and N(R³), providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl; V₄ is selected from hydrogen, OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; or an agriculturally acceptable tautomer, salt or N-oxide thereof.
 2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl.
 3. A compound according to claim 1, wherein Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, methyl, ethyl, ethynyl, halomethyl, haloethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, amino, methylamino, dimethylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, methylthio, halomethylthio, methylsulfinyl and methylsulfonyl.
 4. A compound according to claim 1, wherein G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).
 5. A compound according to any claim 1, wherein V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, benzyl, and COR², wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl and benzyl are optionally substituted by one or more halogen, CN, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy, or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10.
 6. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, NH₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl and benzyl, are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl and C₁-C₄ haloalkyl.
 7. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy.
 8. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl.
 9. A compound according to claim 1, wherein Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkylcarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen and halogen; each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl or a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, and wherein the heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a C₁-C₂ alkylene moiety; R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl; V₁ and V₂ are independently selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl, or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10; V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, or amino; V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl or C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl; G represents a direct bond, C(O), C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵).
 10. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₁ is hydrogen.
 11. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₁ is hydrogen and V₂ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl.
 12. A compound according to claim 1, wherein V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, benzyl, cyclopropyl or amino.
 13. A compound according to claim 1, wherein Y₁ represents hydrogen, halogen, CN, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one or two heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl, C₁-C₄ alkenylcarbonyl and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, NH₂, NHCO(C₁-C₄ alkyl), C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl and C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl; Y₂ and Y₃ are preferably independently selected from hydrogen and bromine; G represents a direct bond, C(R⁴)(R⁵), C(R⁴)(R⁵)—C(R⁶)(R⁷) or C(R⁴)═C(R⁵); each R¹ is independently selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₆ cycloalkyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl, C₃-C₆ alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl, pyridyl or pyridyl-C₁-C₂ alkyl wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NO₂, SH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy, C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy and C₁-C₄ alkoxycarbonyl; each R² independently of one another represents hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl or C₁-C₄ haloalkyl; V₁ is hydrogen; V₂ is selected from hydrogen and C₁-C₄-alkylcarbonyl; or V₁ and V₂ together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached may form the cycle B-10; V₃ is selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl or cyclopropyl; V₄ is selected from hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.
 14. A compound according to claim 1 wherein V₄ is hydrogen, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₃-C₄ alkenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₂-alkyl, cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.
 15. A compound according to claim 1 wherein V₁ and V₂ are both hydrogen.
 16. A compound of formula (L-V)

wherein Y₁ represents halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₆ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkenyl, C₂-C₆ alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, a 5- to 10-membered mono- or bicyclic heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, wherein the heterocycle can be aromatic, or fully or partially saturated, OR¹, CO₂R¹, COR², CON(R³)₂, N(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, naphthyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, NR³COR², SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylphenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl; Y₂ and Y₃ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, CN, NO₂, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkenyl, C₂-C₈ alkynyl, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle containing one to three heteroatoms independently selected from O, S and N, providing that the heterocycle does not contain adjacent oxygen atoms, adjacent sulphur atoms, or adjacent sulphur and oxygen atoms, OR¹, COR², SH, C₁-C₈ alkylthio, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphinyl, C₁-C₈ alkylsulphonyl, phenylthio, phenylsulphinyl, phenylsulphonyl, N(R³)₂, CO₂R¹, O(CO)R², CON(R³)₂, NR³COR² and C(R²)═N—OR¹, wherein the alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, benzyl, and heterocycle are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, OH, NH₂, SH, NO₂, OR¹, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkylthio, C₁-C₄ alkylsulphinyl and C₁-C₄ alkylsulphonyl; V₄ is selected from OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; X₃ is selected from Cl, Br, I, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, n-propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, ethylthio, n-propylthio and isopropylthio; G, R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, V₁, V₂ and V₃ are as defined for a compound of formula (I); or a compound of formula (L-V) wherein G is a direct bond, Y₁, Y₂ and Y₃ each represent hydrogen; V₄ is selected from OH, C₁-C₈ alkyl, C₁-C₈ alkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkenyl, C₃-C₈ alkenyloxy, C₃-C₈ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkenyl, C₃-C₈ cycloalkoxy, C₃-C₈ alkynyl, C₃-C₈ alkynyloxy, phenyl, phenyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, benzyloxy, pyridyl, pyridyl-C₁-C₆-alkyl, COR², CO₂R², CON(R³)₂ and SO₂—C₁-C₈-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl are optionally substituted by one or more groups independently selected from halogen, CN, NH₂, NO₂, OH, C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ haloalkyl, C₁-C₄ alkoxy and C₁-C₄ haloalkoxy; X is selected from Cl, Br, I, methylsulfonyl, ethylsulfonyl, n-propylsulfonyl, isopropylsulfonyl, ethylthio, n-propylthio and isopropylthio, provided that the compound is not one of the following compounds:

or an agriculturally acceptable tautomer, salt or N-oxide thereof.
 17. A compound of the formula (L-VIII):

wherein Y₁, Y₂, Y₃, G and V₄ are defined as in claim 1 or an agriculturally acceptable tautomer, salt or N-oxide thereof, and provided that the compound is not


18. A composition for controlling microorganisms or for preventing attack and infestation of plants therewith, wherein the active ingredient is a compound of the formula (I) as claimed in claim 1, together with a suitable carrier, and, optionally, further comprising an adjuvant.
 19. (canceled)
 20. A method of controlling or preventing infestation of cultivated plants by phytopathogenic microorganisms by application of a compound of formula (I) as claimed in claim 1 to plants, to parts of plants or to the locus thereof.
 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the microorganisms are fungal organisms.
 22. (canceled)
 23. (canceled) 